Community gives Driehoek Old Age Home a new lease on life

The Driehoek Old Age Home has received much-needed attention in the form of building repairs and grocery hampers, thanks to residents’ efforts and local support.

On November 2, Dare to Care Soup Kitchen, a civil organisation run by Vanessa Spassov, hosted a re-opening ceremony to donate food hampers and check on the progress of the building’s repairs.

Residents were treated to lunch and food parcels from Vanessa and her team, enjoying a relaxed afternoon while contractors continued repair work.

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Many residents expressed frustration with the City of Ekurhuleni, saying little has been done to maintain the facility. The fresh smell of paint lingered in the corridors, a sign that renovations were still underway.

The main dining room had been painted but still required finishing touches, while the kitchen and corridors were also being refurbished.

Long-time resident Glynnis van der Merwe, who has lived at the home for five years, said conditions had worsened over time.
“When it rains, water runs down from the rooms, kitchen, and dining hall,” she explained.

“The paint started to peel off, and some tenants had water seeping into their electrical sockets. Furniture would get wet, and we’d have to use buckets to catch the leaks.”

She added that one tenant’s basin had not worked for months, forcing her to use an outside bathroom.

“The water often runs into the area where we have our washing machines, and the roof in the kitchen once collapsed because of water pressure,” Van der Merwe said.

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Residents often repair broken items themselves, which can be a financial strain.

“We each contribute R20 a month to try to fix or buy things for the house,” she said. “We fixed the outside tap, but most repairs are costly, and we can’t afford them.

“Our geysers weren’t working for some time, but the Rotary Club kindly donated a new one and also remembers us every December with food donations.”

Van der Merwe said the recent improvements have brought hope and comfort to the residents.

“When it rains, we hardly sleep we make plans to help each other. These challenges have united us as a community. The repairs will bring life back to the home and give us peace of mind,” she said, adding that the food hampers will help reduce their monthly grocery costs.

“We’ve had to cover the cost of repairs ourselves, and it’s only occasionally that we get outside help from local businesses,” she added.

Vanessa Spassov said it was heartbreaking to see the conditions the elderly residents live in. “As a pensioner myself, it saddens me to see how they struggle. We need to bring some life back to this place,” she said.

She explained that the food donations came from generous people in Edenvale, Bedfordview, and Cresta, and that her organisation has now officially adopted the home.

“Every Wednesday, we bring them lunch meals,” Vanessa added.

Susan Coverly, a close friend of Vanessa’s, often helps with donations, while Gail Cockerell takes pride in seeing the home’s new garden bloom.