A shocking case of elder abuse has been exposed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Joanne Herbst of The Elders Voice KZN, an organisation that advocates for the rights of older persons, said an anonymous tip-off led to the rescue of two elderly brothers from a shack in Malengezi, south of Durban. One brother was trapped in a wheelchair without medication, while both were reportedly victims of financial exploitation.
The brothers had been living in a shack situated at the top of a steep dirt embankment that could only be reached by climbing over rocks and weaving through informal homes.
Herbst said that one of the brothers had been medically boarded, relied on a pension, and was confined to a wheelchair. The shack was tiny, with no access to medication, and the brother's caregiver had allegedly taken possession of his bank card and identity document.
The caregiver had arranged loans through loan sharks in the brother's name and withdrawn money from his account without his consent. The brother's insulin had not been collected for over three months, and his medical aid had not been used to pay for his medication. His brother, who had high blood pressure, had also gone without medication for months.
Joanne Herbst said that she first visited the shack alone, but once she saw the situation, she knew they needed help. She was joined by Vincent de Beer and Jabulani Ntenza of Gladiator Investigations, and Neil Friedberg of Halfway 4x4.
The group carefully proceeded to the shack, anticipating resistance from the caregiver. After parking as close as possible, they walked the rest of the way, climbing the steep hill and crossing rocks to reach the brothers.
The caregiver's main concern was the outstanding loan when the brothers were preparing to leave, Herbst said.
Vincent, Neil, and Jabulani carefully carried the wheelchair-bound brother down the steep embankment, climbed back up to fetch his wheelchair and belongings, and returned once again to help his brother make the difficult journey down the hill.
The brothers were eventually relocated to a new room, where they were found to be safe for the first time in what must have felt like forever. Herbst said the next steps would include cancelling bank cards, applying for new identity documents, reporting the alleged financial exploitation, restoring access to the brothers' pensions, arranging medical treatment, and ensuring they received their medication.
She urged members of the public not to ignore suspected abuse. Elder abuse may not always be visible, and it may hide behind a smile or a title.
Herbst praised the three men who helped in the rescue, saying that their acts of kindness could not be measured. They showed up when needed and stood beside the organisation in protecting society's most vulnerable people.
The brothers were eventually relocated to a new room, where they were found to be safe for the first time in what must have felt like forever.
Joanne Herbst's statement: "Acts of kindness like this cannot be measured.