Elders suffer without centre

After issues with previous management, an interim manager, alleged wild parties and damage to the building, the Eric Holdtman Service Centre at the Tweedy Park old Age Home closed last Wednesday.

According to residents, the centre was being rented out for parties and events that were disruptive and dangerous.

There are claims of guns being fired into the air at a memorial service, residents’ cars being parked in, vandalism and all kinds of mess left behind by party-goers, including enough bottles and rubbish to fill a skip.

One resident reported that her car had been stolen twice.

As reported by the Brakpan Herald in August last year, the service centre was under the supervision of an interim manager and the Department of Social Development (DSD) after the previous board of directors was dissolved amid allegations of unconstitutional behaviour.

The centre is registered as an NPO and was under the administration of a luncheon club, according to the DSD.

The club had a memorandum of agreement with the DSD, which expired in December and a renewal is currently being pursued.

Investigations and disciplinary processes around the previous board were underway until the expiry and should continue should the renewal be successful.

While the centre is being run under the DSD’s supervision, the department doesn’t have the power to oversee how and to whom the hall is rented out.

“As a department we do not have any control in this regard as it is an NPO and the buildings do not belong to the department,” explained Adele de Bruin, SW manager for the Ekurhuleni region of DSD.

“The Springs office responsible for the monitoring of the programme conducted an on-site visit to the centre on March 19 after the concerns were also brought under their attention.

“Based on the vulnerability of the beneficiaries, the centre was advised not to continue to hire out the hall to private people till such time that a board is appointed.”

Some entities did, however, pay for the use of the centre, including a church, a hairdresser and a social club.

These entities paid for their use of the centre until the end of March. With the closure of the centre on Wednesday, these entities had to cease use of it.

This was confirmed during a visit to the centre on Friday by the Herald, which found the building locked up and not in use. The hairdresser now visits her clients in-person at their flats.

The kitchen, which had been providing meals to the elderly residents and some outside patrons who couldn’t afford food elsewhere, had also reportedly not been paid in several months and had to cease functions leaving many residents without a hot meal every day.

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Resident Veronica Mulls (70) was disappointed by the centre’s closure and told the Herald she frequently visited a small shop that was run from the centre for clothes and other knick-knacks.

“I never leave my flat, so I see everything that happens down there (at the centre). There are weddings, engagement parties, funerals, they park in front of the gate and make a mess.

“There’s no security at the gate anymore, which is always open, and people just come and go. There’s too much movement, it’s no longer safe,” she said.

The DSD assured the Herald that the centre will reopen and resume operations once the memorandum of agreement with the luncheon club has been renewed.

The centre was a valuable and much-loved facility at Tweedy Park and provided a host of activities and services to pensioners.

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It was named after Eric Holdtman, who did so much for the care of the elderly. He served 23 years on the council of the former Brakpan Municipality and eight terms as the town’s mayor.

Any pensioners that receive a Sassa grant could get a membership at the centre for a minimal fee. Members could participate in the activities, use the services and get a discount on meals prepared by the centre.

Another service the centre provided was basic healthcare. They provided general medical check-ups, including measuring blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

They also provided transport for collecting chronic medication at hospitals or clinics, or pick up medication on the pensioner’s behalf using their clinic card.

There was also a library with a variety of books. Other activities included Bible study, carpet bowling and bingo as well as exercise activities and games such as darts, chess and jigsaw puzzles.

In the past, the centre played host to large functions such as the annual flower show organised by the now-defunct Brakpan Horticultural Society.