Elderly residents at the Alberton Service Centre are living in increasingly dangerous conditions as ongoing infrastructure problems linked to municipal property remain unresolved, according to management.

The centre and Meals on Wheels, registered NPOs serving the local community, care for 18 elderly residents who rely on the facility for accommodation, meals and social support.

Manager Telana de Winnaar says the crisis began in October 2024 when she contacted the city about water leaks from municipal stormwater pipes running through the building.

The pipes have been leaking for an extended period, causing structural damage to the property.

“The continuous water flow resulted in parts of the building sinking, causing an alarming and dangerous situation for our elderly residents,” she said.

Despite follow-up emails and communication with Ward Clr Ivan Naidoo, De Winnaar claims there was no lasting solution implemented.

She confirmed that Naidoo visited the premises in October 2024, accompanied by members of the Parks Department, but no tangible intervention followed.

“We were given assurances, but those promises have not materialised. We are now in 2026, and the damage has significantly worsened,” she said.

Security compromised

A second concern is large municipal trees along the creek boundary. De Winnaar says trees have fallen onto the fence, damaging the boundary wall and electric fencing.

As a result, the centre’s security system was compromised. Intruders gained access to the property from the back after the fencing was damaged and security beams were stolen.

“Our elderly residents are at risk. We do not have the financies to remove municipal trees or repair fencing and security systems damaged due to the municipality’s lack of maintenance,” she said.

She added that as an NPO, all available funds are directed towards caring for residents, not repairing infrastructure.

Creek maintenance concerns

The third issue relates to the condition of the creek bordering the property. De Winnaar says that, over the years, rainwater has washed away rocks and sand from the municipal side, destabilising the ground and causing cracks in the boundary wall.

“This structural damage continues to worsen. Again, we do not have the funds to repair damage from a problem beyond our property line,” she said.

De Winnaar described the situation as critical, warning that the safety and dignity of residents are being compromised.

“We are pleading for urgent intervention before irreversible damage occurs, or worse, someone is injured,” she said.

The centre has called on the CoE to:

• repair the leaking stormwater pipes;

• remove and manage dangerous trees along the creek boundary;

• properly maintain and stabilise the creek to prevent further structural damage.

At the time of publication, the Alberton Record had sent questions to the city and Naidoo and was awaiting a response.