MEC urges elderly to use retirement homes, after two die in Mandeni house fire

Following the horrific deaths of two old people after fire gutted their home in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has appealed to citizens to allow government to take care of elderly people. 

MEC Khoza, on 2 October 2019 led a provincial government delegation from the provincial legislature and leaders of iLembe District Municipality and Mandeni Local Municipality to the area.

Elderly retired nurse and helper die in a fire

The delegation heard of how a retired nurse, Sizani Grenette Dube, 68, and her helper Ms Switty Mhlongo, 80, died in the blaze pleading for help from the neighbours. Community members tried in vain to save the two elderly people from the intense fire, which also caused a gas explosion.

Dube had dedicated her life to nursing and when she retired, asked Mhlongo to stay with her as she could no longer take care of herself.

How the pair died according to Khoza

Speaking about the incident Khoza said:

“It’s very painful to learn and hear the details on how the two elderly persons died alone in the house. They couldn’t find a key to open the house which had burglar guards.”

Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Social Development MEC

She added:

“We were informed that Dube, who was wheelchair-bound, tried to break the window with the help of her tenant but all failed. Mhlongo was crying on the other side trying to find the key to open the burglar guards.”

Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Social Development MEC

MEC asks residents to use government old age homes

MEC Khoza said it was important for the communities to allow government to take care of elderly people. “All we need now is for our people to understand that there are a lot of government facilities to take care of elderly persons,” she said.

She pleaded with the community to use facilities saying:

“We need to make use of government facilities. The department wants to ensure the safety of older persons and our communities should allow us to do that.”

Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Social Development MEC

Khoza notes how deaths could’ve been avoided

The MEC asked the community to work with the the department stating:

“The abuse, murder, rapes and incidents similar to the one that took the likes of Mrs Dube and Ms Mhlongo could be avoided. We need out communities to work with the department.”

Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Social Development MEC

What government residencies offer

She continued:

“The government residents of the older persons have professional nurses, social workers and other employees to ensure safety of older persons. Let’s make use of these facilities provided by government.”

Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Social Development MEC

A team of social workers from the Department of Social Development has been assigned to stay with the families to provide psychological support.

By African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi MacKay