Crimes against elderly ‘shows SA’s lost respect for senior citizens’
The Association for the Aged says crimes committed against the elderly are a sign that society has lost respect for its senior citizens.
It's been reacting to the rape of an 84-year-old woman, allegedly by a 21-year-old man in Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality in southern KZN.
He was arrested after he fell asleep on Monday night, and the woman crawled out of her home in Esibizane Village to seek help.
READ: Calls for heavy sentence for man who raped KZN grandmother
Femeda Shamam, who's with the KZN-based association, says the news comes as the country observes older persons week.
"I think we are starting to see more crimes against older persons because I think as society we view them as vulnerable, would-be criminals see them as soft targets.
"There is also a lack of supportive networks around them, that increases their risk. I think the fundamental for me is that fact that as a society, we do not respect the older people like we should."
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