'He deserved dignity' - Man, 71 found covered in faeces on KZN roadside rushed to hospital

A 72-year-old man discovered in a wheelchair, encrusted with excrement and suffering from injuries after allegedly being forced to beg on the streets near Kingsburgh Mall, has been rushed to the hospital following a group of women's intervention. The Elders Voice KZN received inquiries last week regarding the organization's involvement in assisting a couple sleeping outside the mall.

Upon investigation, they encountered the elderly man in a "heartbreakingly poor state." According to the organization, the man had been transported from Durban and was allegedly being coerced into begging. The urgent matter at hand for the women was the man's immediate need for care, irrespective of his condition or the circumstances leading to this situation.

They brought with them blankets, a pillow, clothes, diapers, soap, face cloths, sanitizer, a bucket, water, and linen savers. Luyande Meyer and Alta from Heart of Toti collaborated in bathing, cleansing, dressing, and dressing the elderly man in clean garments. The women's primary objective was to ensure the man reached the hospital clean, cared for, and with his dignity restored, rather than arriving as another neglected elderly individual from the streets.

They had initially awaited a state ambulance but, as night fell and temperatures plummeted, they decided waiting would no longer suffice. Faithmed's Konrad ultimately stepped in, arranging an ambulance. "Within no time, an ambulance arrived, Uncle was safely loaded and he was taken to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, where we pray he will now receive the medical attention he so desperately needs," The Elders Voice KZN recalled.

The organization also expressed gratitude towards the individuals who facilitated the rescue, including a donor who financed the private ambulance. "You didn't merely pay for transportation. You facilitated the extraction of a vulnerable elderly man from the roadside and placed him in a location where he could receive necessary medical attention.

Thank you for acknowledging his worth," the organization noted. The women who attended to the man were also commended for prioritizing compassion over comfort. "Luyande Meyer — my dear, you demonstrated true compassion today. You plunged in without concern for getting dirty, and you didn't question 'whose problem is this?' Instead, you noticed an elderly man in need and provided assistance," the organization stated.

The Elders Voice KZN emphasized that homelessness is seldom simple, with addiction, familial circumstances, personal choices, and systemic failures often contributing to people's narratives. However, they stressed that tonight, the most critical aspect was the recognition of an elderly man found on the roadside, covered in his waste, now in the hospital.

The group's intervention was not about resolving every facet of homelessness but acknowledging the humanity of someone who had been left vulnerable. They acknowledged that they may not always be able to rectify all issues surrounding homelessness or save everyone. Nevertheless, when an elderly person in need is present, they will always strive to provide them with dignity.