With residents of Silwerkroon voicing their growing frustration, Ward 106 Councillor Tim Denny has called on the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently address the poor living conditions and long-standing vacancies at Silwerkroon Old Age Home in Raceview.

Residents have expressed frustration over seven unoccupied flats that have remained vacant since 2023, despite hundreds of elderly citizens being on the city’s housing waiting list.

They say the units have deteriorated, while some seniors live in unsafe or unsuitable conditions.

One resident said the allocation system is unfair.

“It doesn’t make sense that single people are staying in double rooms. Couples must occupy double rooms. There are people here who used to stay with their partners, but sadly, some have passed away. It’s fair if they move to single rooms,” the resident told Alberton Record.

Alberton Record finds poor conditions

When Alberton Record visited the home, one of the vacant flats was found in poor condition, with a decaying ceiling and foul-smelling carpets.

The other tenant’s room showed visible water damage, with the ceiling pulling away from the wall and allowing dirt to enter.

@albertonrecord Ward councillor Tim Denny is demanding urgent action from the City of Ekurhuleni as elderly residents at Silwerkroon Old Age Home continue to live with leaking ceilings, theft, and seven long-vacant flats waiting for refurbishment. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za #Silwerkroon ♬ original sound – Alberton Record

During the visit, Alberton Record also went around the building and found severe deterioration throughout the upper floors.

The ceilings were crumbling, paint was peeling from the walls, and several outside windows were damaged, some missing latches and unable to close properly.

Residents also raised safety concerns, saying they have been without security services for over six weeks.

@albertonrecordDuring the visit, Alberton Record also went around the building and found severe deterioration throughout the upper floors. The ceilings were crumbling, paint was peeling from the walls, and several outside windows were damaged, some missing latches and unable to close properly.

♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“Our things are being stolen. People would hang clothes, and they would get stolen,” said another resident.
They also claimed that the city’s garden maintenance services stopped years ago.

“We used to have contractors who came to do garden service, but they stopped a long time ago. Now we rely on one resident, Michael, who helps us. We have to pay him, and that’s not okay because we are pensioners,” said a resident who has lived at Silwerkroon for nine years.

Earlier this year, a burst pipe incident caused water to flood into the building’s lift, leaving behind a terrible smell.
When no help came from the city, one tenant’s church had to step in to provide a vacuum to drain the water.

Resident pleads to move for health reasons

In a message to Denny, Ward 106 committee member Nicolene Haasbroek said one elderly tenant was told she could not move to another unit for health reasons due to a lack of funds for repairs, even though she offered to pay for the refurbishment herself.

Denny escalated the issue to the city’s Human Settlements Department, but the response he received offered little comfort.

City’s response: No contractors and no timeline

In response to Denny’s inquiry, Sipho Mahlare, senior manager for Human Settlement Operations, said: The vacant units are not allocated because they need work to be done on them. Unfortunately, the Department does not have contractors in place to refurbish the Units.

The Supply Chain Management Division is in the process of finalising the appointments. Once this process is complete, the Units will be refurbished and allocated. NB: The Department is not in a position to commit to the timeline because this is dependent on the other Department.”

City spokesperson explains the delays

When Alberton Record sought further clarity, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the vacant flats have been empty since 2024 after the previous contractor withdrew due to financial difficulties.

He said the new contactors have since been appointed.

“Funding has been allocated, and this was approved when the council adopted the 2025\2026 budget. The EPMO panel of contactors has been finalised, and appointment letters have been issued, Dlamini said.

He added that the city aims to refurbish and allocate the units once the new service providers begin work.

Issue dates back to 2023

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about conditions at Silwerkroon.

On July 2, 2023, Alberton Record reported that the DA Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota MPL, and DA Gauteng spokesperson for Human Settlements, Evert du Plessis MPL, inspected Silwerkroon following residents’ complaints about poor maintenance.

DA Shadow MEC joined them for Social Development Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, members of the Human Settlements Oversight Committee, and a Ward 106 committee member.

At the time, residents complained that at least eight rooms stood empty due to a lack of funding for painting and maintenance.

The DA said residents had not been assisted by social workers for two years and that infrastructure issues, especially on the top floor, were cause for concern.

In response to those earlier concerns, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said in 2023 that a contractor was on-site completing work and that the vacant units would be allocated to new tenants by July 1 of that year.
However, more than a year later, the flats remain unoccupied and in poor condition.

Denny calls the response unacceptable

Denny says the city’s explanation is not good enough, given the conditions at Silwerkroon and the long waiting list of seniors in need of housing.

“Not only do we have a terrible challenge with fascia boards on the top level at Silwerkroon, but now we receive this poor and unacceptable answer from the department,” Denny said.

“Currently, there are at least 300 old folk on the waiting list, but the department won’t fill up the seven empty flats.”

He added that he will continue to pressure the city to prioritise the refurbishment and management of Silwerkroon, insisting that the elderly deserve safe, dignified, and well-maintained housing.

ALSO READ: Lack of maintenance prompts DA inspection at Silwerkroon