The Portfolio Committee on Social Development, led by Chairperson Dr. Tlou Chokoe, held a public hearing on the Older Persons Amendment Bill at the Hammanskraal Community Centre.
The bill aims to amend the Older Persons Act of 2006 by introducing new definitions and provisions relating to the monitoring and evaluation of all services to older persons and for their removal to temporary safe care without a court order. It also strengthens implementation and compliance measures, clarifies existing text, and provides for connected matters.
Dr. Chokoe praised Hammanskraal elderly residents for attending in numbers. “It would have been a big mistake to present this kind of bill to an audience that is youth, as these are the people whom this bill is intended for,” he said.
“Your government that you have elected has realised that in the act that has been in existence, there have always been challenges, especially those dealing with the protection of older people. Since 2010, as the bill has been in effect, the government has gone out on a roadshow specifically around 2014 and 2015 where it needed consultation to hear from Older People’s Forum, the Human Resource Commission, and different Departments,” said Chokoe.
“There were inputs that were taken into consideration, and then a bill emerged. That is when the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) started meeting with different legislations. We can share with you that our NCOP has visited the provincial legislation. The NCOP has met with my committee, and the portfolio of Social Development, and together with the Department, the provincial department, and the NCOP, we have decided that it is good for the betterment of our people if we can come and do a public hearing,” added Chokoe.
“Today we are on the second public hearing. The good thing about your public hearing is that before we came today, there were workshops.”
Mavis Mphela from the Department of Social Development Department National Office said the ACT came into effect in 2010, and since then, they have experienced challenges in implementing the act that resulted in the Amendment.
“The bill is the product of consultation with various stakeholders such as the South African Older Persons Forum, South African Human Rights Commission, other government departments, NCOP, institutions of higher learning, and private sectors. It is safe to say that the bill was widely consulted and most people have put their inputs and comments towards the bill.”
“The amendment Bill seeks to amend the older person’s act to insert new definitions and Provisions relating to monitoring and evaluation. It is important to monitor every bill that is legislated and is considered to be law. It further seeks to insert measures.”
Mphela said the Bill intends to respond to identified legislative gaps in the principle Act and similar implementation challenges hampering the protection of older persons. Furthermore, matters of poor coordination and intersectoral collaboration have impacted negatively on this act.
