Commission for Gender Equality raises alarm over increasing cases of abuse against the elderly
19-year-old Luvo Gqaza was arrested on Wednesday, following a video that went viral on social media this week, showing the teenager assaulting his grandmother.
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JOHANNESBURG - The Commission for Gender Equality has raised concern over increasing incidents of violence and abuse against elderly people by their relatives.
This comes after 19-year-old Luvo Gqaza was arrested on Wednesday, following a video that went viral on social media this week, showing the teenager assaulting his grandmother.
The commission said it would monitor progress into the matter and promised to initiate an investigation into the abuse of elderly persons across the country.
"As a Commission for Gender Equality, we are aware persons suffer a wide range of abuse including physical, emotional and economic abuse wherein they are deprived of their social grants through various means," said the commission's spokesperson, Javu Baloyi.
READ: Case against 19-year-old accused of assaulting grandmother in Kraaifontein postponed
Meanwhile, the Cape Metro's EFF secretary, Banzi Dambuza, who attended the court appearance of Gqaza in the Kuils River Magistrate's Court, called for the law to take its course.
"Luvo must get the punishment that he deserves, the fact that even now there's some darling system that it's going around tip-toeing. Luvo is an insult. The fact that now we must be told that he's suicidal and when he goes to Pollsmoor, he must be separated from others," said Dambuza.
The 19-year-old remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Kuils River Magistrate's Court next week Friday for his bail application.