GOOD statement by Felicity Klazen
GOOD: Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Witzenberg Municipality.
16 August 2022
The recent death of an elderly woman at Huis Maudie Kriel senior citizen centre in Ceres is entirely unacceptable and has left the people of Witzenberg Municipality in shock.
Since the devastating incident, GOOD has visited Huis Maudie Kriel to inspect the site where those in charge have given us their commitment to fully cooperate with ongoing investigations.
These investigations will hopefully provide some insight into what happened and we expect if anyone is found to have been negligent, they will be met with the full might of the law.
However, we are extremely concerned about the ability of various community stakeholders to perform their duties to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Reports have also since emerged that the centre, which is endorsed by the Western Cape Government, was last inspected in 2018.
The woman, who was wheelchair-bound, was accompanied outside by staff where she would normally have a cigarette. As reports stated, she was subsequently left outside and only found early Sunday morning.
Social services are often the last line of care for the frail and vulnerable in a society where inequality and economic disparity are furthering the gorge between the rich and the poor. This incident is a stark reminder of the state of social care in society and how it affects our lives daily.
GOOD extends its heartfelt condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of the elderly woman who passed on.
We cannot allow those entrusted with the emotional, physical and mental safety of elderly citizens to erode on their watch and damage the trust so many others have placed in them.
We expect that the provincial Department of Social Development, Huis Maudie Kriel and its management, and all stakeholders involved will be honest, transparent and open to the community about the events that occurred.
Media Enquiries:
Felicity Klazen, GOOD: Councillor & Deputy Mayor of Witzenberg Municipality
Cell: 063 646 2694
Email: klazenfelicity@gmail.com
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za