Lifts at Tweedy Park still out of order despite metro promises
The metro has stated one of the lifts has been repaired, but this does not appear to be the case.
The elevators at Tweedy Park Old Age Home are still not fully operational, contrary to the City of Ekurhuleni’s claims that one has been repaired along with the reservoir overflow that was the likely cause of the elevator malfunction.
The municipality also stated the contractor is making efforts to resolve the other lift.
A visit to Tweedy Park by the Brakpan Herald, however, revealed that the ‘operational’ lift only works from the fourth floor upwards and has now started getting stuck on the eighth floor.
The most recent case of it getting stuck was with two children inside. Lily Jordan (72) lives on the sixth floor and has a knee injury, making the issues with the lifts a huge problem for her.
“We’re going to die because of that lift. I’m old, I have to climb the stairs with a broken knee. It’s the lifts, the water, everything is going wrong here, they just have to make a plan for our people.
“People can’t bath, can’t make coffee, there’s no power, and people can’t get around. People have to bring us food and water,” she said.
Martie Pienaar (75) is lucky to live on the first floor since she heavily relies on a walker.
“It (the lifts not working) is why I live here at the bottom, but I can see how the people struggle,” she said.“On the second floor, there’s a lady that also uses a walker. She has to come down the stairs backwards. What if she falls? I don’t know what to do.
“If I could walk I would walk, but if you can’t walk, what are you supposed to do? Every time the technicians come here I see them work, I saw them take something out of the panel and since then the lifts don’t work. They just never fix it.”
Moreover, the reservoir that has reportedly been fixed is still leaking, as is evidenced by the growing dampness surrounding the staircase below the reservoir.
According to some residents, the reservoir overflow problem was not fixed but instead diverted to run down the sewage pipes, causing further havoc.
Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius agreed that the situation at Tweedy Park is frustrating and unacceptable.
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“The constant breakdowns of the lifts can literally become a life or death scenario,” he said, referring to the recent incident where two children were stuck in the lift.
“After following up with the Human Settlements Department, the project manager for the lifts under the Real Estate Department explained the challenge that the contractor faces when attending to the lifts is a result of the fact that the lift shafts are affected by a water leak from the top and passage windows.
“The Human Settlements Department then requested a site meeting with the contractor so that they can show them the leak since the municipality fixed the issue including the water tank leak that was caused by overflowing.
“The lifts at Tweedy Park have been a problem since installation. There are constant breakdowns and excuses as to why they are not operating correctly.”
Pretorius confirmed there will be a site visit this week to look at the challenges and to confront the contractor on the state of the lifts.
The Herald is awaiting comment from the city.
