MEC slams ‘unacceptable conditions’ at old-age home, wants it closed and residents moved

MOPANI – The MEC responsible for social development, Ms. Florence Radzilani expressed shock and outrage over the conditions she found at Vuthlari Old Age Home during her oversight visit.

MEC was joined by Cllr, B.A Shivambu, Speaker, Cllr Martha Maswanganyi, Cllr Magdeline Lewele, Cllr Reuben Mosila as well as Ward 18 Councillor, Hudson Ndima. Reacting to the findings following the walkabout in the facility, Radzilani said the conditions under which people accommodated at the centre are subjected to are deplorable.

“There are serious violations of Children’s Act, People living with disability as well as Older persons. You can not accommodate all these vulnerable people in one place,” said Radzilani.

The information about the centre is even misleading. He claims the centre was officially opened by Premier, Stan Mathabatha in 1998, a clear lie because during that, Mathabatha was not the Premier of Limpopo province. MEC Radzilani said government has the responsibility to rescue people who are put under deplorable conditions with clear violations of their right. “We must protect their human rights.

These vulnerable people need us as government to come to their rescue and that is exactly what we are going to do,” said Radzilani. The MEC instructed social workers to get the details of all the people accommodated in the facility, particularly IDs, while onsight so that the department can contact their family members.

The exercise is meant to contact family so that these vulnerable people can be taken out of the facility. “The Department will do everything within the law to rescue all these people who are subjected to these unacceptable conditions, added Radzilani. Upon concluding the assessment and investigations, the Department will take appropriate action.