Tweedy Park residents let down again by broken lifts

The lifts at Tweedy Park, which have been out of order again for the past two months, were of no help when emergency services recently had to collect an elderly resident from the fifth floor of the complex.

The resident in question had to be hospitalised for multiple conditions.

Emergency services personnel had to climb up 10 flights of stairs with a stretcher, and then carry the resident back down the same 10 flights on the stretcher.

This was reportedly made very difficult by the narrow staircase.

According to one resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, they were told the elevators aren’t connected to the power source. The resident, however, said the lights on the control panel are still burning.

“It’s likely a simple fix but they don’t want to do the work. They don’t fix anything, we pay our rent but they do nothing, why must we pay?,” the resident said.

Another resident jested that the metro should install benches on each floor near the stairs for residents to sit down and rest if they’re not going to fix the elevators.

Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius said the status of the lifts, with respect to efforts made, has remained unchanged since May 2024.

“Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini stated back then that a contractor was assigned to conduct assessments on the faulty lifts, and that the city is waiting for them to furnish the city with a quotation,” said Pretorius.

“This statement was made with no regard for the elderly at the old age home, as it is close to a year down the line and still nothing has happened. The city has no regard for the dignity of our elderly residents.

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“They have now found themselves held ransom by the city’s incompetence, as a large number of the elderly are not mobile enough to utilise the stairs.

“Engaging the department, the response received was, “We cannot proceed with repairs and reconstruction due to unforeseen circumstances”.”

There is reportedly no tender in place, and Pretorius said the city should refrain from making misleading statements about the status quo.

“I have written to the Human Rights Commission, not only about the general state of affairs at Tweedy Park, but including things like the inconsistent water supply,” he said.

“It is my hope that this will put pressure on the municipality to once and for all resolve the long-standing issues at the home.”
Comment requested from the City of Ekurhuleni had not been received at the time of publication.

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