Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of 2006)Chapter 5 : Protection for Older Persons26. Notification of abuse of older persons |
| (1) | Any person who suspects that an older person has been abused or suffers from an abuse-related injury must immediately notify the Director-General or a police official of his or her suspicion. |
| (2) | A person is not liable in respect of any notification given in good faith in terms of subsection (1). |
| (3) | A person who fails to comply with subsection (1) is guilty of an offence. |
| (4) | On receipt of a notification in terms of subsection (1)— |
| (a) | the Director-General must investigate the matter and if the suspicion is substantiated by the investigation, section 25(4) applies; and |
| (b) | the police official must inform the Director-General of the alleged abuse or, if he or she is satisfied that it will be in the best interests of the older person if the alleged offender is removed from the home or place where the older person resides, act in terms of section 27. |
| (5) | Subsection (4)(a) applies with the necessary changes if the Director-General receives information contemplated in subsection (4)(b). |