FORT BEAUFORT ELDERS BREAK THE SILENCE ON ABUSE BY YOUTH

By Evans Molimi.

• ⁠Elder abuse is rising in Fort Beaufort, often perpetrated by young relatives.
• Substance abuse, hatred, and unemployment are cited as the main causes.
• ⁠Elderly citizens plan to hand over a memorandum to the police, calling for community action.

In the small town of Fort Beaufort, nestled in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province, elderly residents are breaking their silence on a disturbing rise in abuse, neglect, and exploitation—often at the hands of younger family members. With a population of just over 13,000 people, Fort Beaufort is known for its historical significance and close-knit communities. But behind this quiet façade, many older persons are suffering in silence.
This week in Newtown, a group of elders met with social workers to share their painful experiences. They identified hatred, substance abuse, and youth unemployment as the leading drivers of emotional, physical, and even sexual abuse they face—often in their own homes.
“It’s not strangers hurting us. It’s our own children and grandchildren,” one elder said. Many explained that the abuse goes unreported due to fear of retaliation or emotional ties to the perpetrators.
Miss Nomathemba Ngxangane, a respected elder in the community, added:
“All we ask is to be respected and treated with dignity. We are also human beings. Young people need to be taught about protecting and respecting us, the elderly.”
She urged older persons to report abuse to law enforcement agencies to prevent further harm.
In a move to raise awareness and spur action, the elders plan to hand over a memorandum to the local police station, calling for stronger community involvement and support in protecting senior citizens from abuse.In response to the growing concern, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, is scheduled to visit Fort Beaufort on Sunday, 15 June 2025, to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.