TWO elderly brothers in Durban were rescued from a life of neglect and financial exploitation, thanks to a community effort led by The Elders Voice KZN.
An anonymous tip-off led to the rescue of the brothers from a shack in Malengezi, south of Durban, where one was trapped in a wheelchair without medication, and both were reportedly victims of financial exploitation.
Joanne Herbst of The Elders Voice KZN, an organisation that advocates for the rights of older persons, said the situation was worse than they could ever have imagined.
One of the brothers had been medically boarded, relied on a pension and was confined to a wheelchair. The shack was situated at the top of a steep dirt embankment that could only be reached by climbing over rocks and weaving through informal homes.
"He had no way of leaving. He was, quite literally, trapped. The other brother was desperately trying to survive in equally heartbreaking conditions,” said Herbst.
