Residents of Andries Scribante Haven in Cason can breathe a huge sigh of relief as the installation of new lifts at the centre is finally complete.
For a number of years, residents of the metro-owned flats were forced to use the stairs to get to and from their apartments.
The installation of the new lifts began in September.
MMC for Human Settlements councillor Lesiba Mpya officially opened the new lifts on February 1.
“We want to appreciate this moment in which we are extremely proud to hand over the lift facility,” he said.
“After a long wait, the lifts will allow the residents to move swiftly within the building. We want to thank the senior citizens for allowing us to provide them with dignified human settlement.
“This is also in remembrance of those residents who died during lockdown. May their souls rest in peace.”
Mpya added the lift purchase agreement comes with a backup generator which will kick in when power is out or load-shedding is implemented.
“We want our residents, especially the elders, to be able to use the lifts at any time, even during load-shedding,” he said.
Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos said he is delighted that the lifts were installed before the end of this financial year.
“I accepted last year when the hard lockdown was announced that the installation of the lifts, so hard fought for, will not materialise in this term.
“However, with increased pressure put on the human settlement department, through my office and members of the public, the lifts were eventually ordered from China and delivered to Durban in September.
“This also proved that the answers to questions posed by me to the MMC of human settlement were not truthfully answered in council.
“He said in a reply in 2018 that the lifts had been delivered from China and were being stored in a warehouse, the location of which he was not able to state clearly.
“The same reply was given to the same questions posed to MEC Ntombi Mekgwe by MPL Janet Semple.
“It is a pity that some residents trapped on the second and third floors did not live to see these lifts installed,” said de Vos.
The ward councillor stated his gravest concern is the absence of a budgetary item for maintenance of these lifts as the manufacturer is based in China, which means a breakdown could take very long to repair.
Residential committee members at Andries Scriante Haven Susan Visser and Soobhahn Brooks said the new lifts are a blessing.
“We are truly grateful and happy. We would like to thank ward councillor Marius de Vos and everybody who assisted with the installation of the lifts,” Brooks said.
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