Screenshots of the video clip that went viral showing 82-year-old Sindiwe Ngqaza attacked by 17-year-old teen in her home in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein in the Western Cape. 
The Kuilsriver Magistrates’ Court earlier this week granted Sindiwe Ngqaza a protection order against her 19-year-old grandson Luvo Ngqaza. He was released on a warning with conditions pending his trial.
Luvo Ngqaza allegedly assaulted his 82-year-old grandmother, causing her to suffer a stroke and become wheelchair-bound. The incident took place on 14 June in the kitchen of her home in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein.
The conditions imposed on Ngqaza are that he must attend his trial, stay at an address in Bloekombos (rather than with his grandmother), attend school regularly and be under house arrest from Friday afternoon to Monday morning.
According to Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the accused has been charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and violating the Older Persons Act of 2006.
The incident sparked outrage after a video of the assault went viral on social media. The video shows the grandmother and the teen arguing. He then slaps her and hits her on the head. She falls to the ground, pushing a pot of rice off a stove and on to the floor. On her knees, the grandmother picked up the pot and managed to get to her feet.
Following the incident, Ngqaza suffered a stroke, which left her paralysed on one side and wheelchair-bound.
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) condemned the incident and expressed concern over recent acts of violence against older persons.
In a statement, the SAHRC highlighted cases including the killing of an elderly resident and allegations of rape at the Ipeleng Bagodi old age home in North West, and the rape and stabbing of an 83-year-old woman at Dikweteng village in Mpumalanga.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Older people in South Africa not receiving the care they deserve, says Human Rights Watch
Forms of abuse
A report released by The Association for the Aged (Tafta) earlier this year said emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse are the prominent types of abuse suffered by older people.
This is exacerbated by the high unemployment rate, with grandchildren depending on their elderly relatives’ R2,090 monthly Sassa grant. This can, in some cases, result in older people being robbed, threatened or assaulted.
Tafta, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg, conducted a study in 2023 which explored the nature of elder abuse in South Africa.
The report found that alcohol and drug addiction are key drivers of financial, emotional and physical abuse of older people.
A pattern that was noted across communities was that adult children would go out with friends, become intoxicated and return home, demanding food from the older family member. If there was no food in the house due to financial constraints or if the older person was already in bed, the perpetrator would become verbally abusive or physically aggressive.
A study by University of Cape Town PhD graduate Dr Roxanne Jacobs found that one in 10 people aged 65 years and older reported having experienced some form of abuse. According to her study, financial and emotional abuse were the most common types.
The Ngqaza case
The teenager’s bail application was heard on Friday, 12 June. Sindiwe Ngqaza, appearing in a wheelchair, was the first to take the stand. She asked the court to deny bail to her grandson.
Ngqaza testified that the accused contacted her from the Eastern Cape and expressed an interest in studying in the Western Cape. He moved to Cape Town while his mother remained in the Eastern Cape.
According to her testimony, her grandchild would come home from school, get changed and join his friends, who were allegedly involved in criminal activities. She claimed they would steal her possessions and sell them for drugs.
The court heard they had argued on the day of the incident and Vuyo had threatened to beat her up. He slapped her repeatedly and she collapsed after losing consciousness. The following day, the left side of her body was paralysed. She suffered injuries to her head, ribs and left leg.
She said she was afraid of Vuyo and did not want him to be released on bail.
The State opposed bail for the safety of the accused, as members of the community had threatened to take action against him if he were to be released.
Elder abuse under-reported
Roedolf Kay, national coordinator of the South African Older Person’s Forum, said crimes against older people were under-reported, mainly because the abuse predominantly takes place within households.
“Older persons are often either too scared to report the abuse or they don’t want to get the abuser into trouble. Some older persons are dependent on their family members and reporting them might, in turn, cause the abuser to stop providing for them.
“In cases where the perpetrator is a child or grandchild, it is often the case that the older persons would refuse to open a case of abuse simply because it’s their children.
“It is so sad – in the video of the granny who is being abused by her grandson – to hear this lady say that she would rather die than face more abuse. This illustrates the emotional impact and the feeling of hopelessness that abuse can have on an older person,” Kay explained.
Read more: Abuse of the elderly on the rise, with relatives mostly responsible
To begin to effectively combat this scourge, Kay said it was important that older people knew that they did not have to tolerate abusive situations and that they had rights and protection under the Constitution and the Older Persons Act.
Kay said the Older Persons Amendment Bill was awaiting approval by Parliament. The amendments would provide more comprehensive protection against abuse. He called on Parliament to fast-track the Bill.
Vulnerable group
The SAHRC’s Wisani Baloyi emphasised that, despite legal protections, older people faced numerous challenges as a vulnerable group with unique needs.
“It is distressing that older persons are experiencing abuse from individuals in their communities who should be providing support and protection. The recent attacks on older persons are regrettable, and the Commission has emphasised the importance of the Older Persons Amendment Bill, which seeks to safeguard the rights and welfare of older persons comprehensively.
“This Bill, endorsed by the Commission, addresses immediate and sensitive intervention in cases of abuse and mandates the provision of temporary safe care and removal from dangerous environments, which is crucial for immediate protection,” Baloyi said.
International trend
According to the World Health Organization, around one in six people older than 60 experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.
It warned that elder abuse can have serious physical and mental health, financial and social consequences including physical injuries, premature death, depression, cognitive decline, financial devastation and placement in nursing homes.
Vuyo Ngqaza’s assault case has been postponed until 27 September for further investigation. DM