Department probe into assault of care home resident
THE department of social development has launched an investigation into the assault of 84-yearold Hope Shepherd at the Lily Kirchmann care home in East London.
Labelling the assault by a caregiver as “sick and unacceptable”, the department said it planned to visit the facility soon.
Hidden camera footage showed how a frail Shepherd was assaulted by a caregiver in February at the complex in Berea.
The announcement by the department brings to three the number of probes into the matter following police investigations and another by the Berea Gardens Retirement Foundation (BGRF).
Social development department spokesman Gcobani Maswana said: “As the custodians of older persons we will be visiting the old age home to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assault.
“What has happened to Mrs Shepherd is terrible and should be condemned. The assault on her was sick and the behavioural character of the caregiver is unacceptable,” Maswana said.
“Mrs Shepherd needs counselling to get over this disturbing period.”
He said the department was obliged to act as it encouraged older people to live in old age homes as they were usually safe.
He said the department had a developmental quality assurance programme that focused on norms and standards in all the old age homes in the province.
“This is where our officials conduct site inspections and investigate the treatment of these elderly people two to three times a year,” he said.
Shepherd’s assault was caught on camera after her daughter Bernice Robertson became concerned when she noticed her mother had a number of unexplained injuries.
The camera was placed in a specially built television and recorded a caregiver slapping, punching and even kicking Shepherd.
Maswana said Robertson’s actions were to be commended and showed her “care and protection” of her mother.
A caregiver, Ncediswa Mkenkcele, 40, has since been arrested and faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
She is out on a warning and will appear again in the East London Magistrate’s Court on June 5.
Shepherd has since been removed from Lily Kirchmann for her own safety.
BGRF executive director Mike Schulze said yesterday Mkenkcele was employed at Lily Kirchmann in 2003 as a caregiver.
Her qualifications include a senior certificate which she obtained in 1997 and a general certificate in first aid from Red Cross obtained in 1998.
She also attended a course in healthcare at the Accord Business Academy in 2003. dispatch.co.za