Concerns over living conditions at the Noycedale Flats in Nigel have resurfaced after residents claimed that little progress has been made in addressing long-standing maintenance and service delivery issues at the elderly housing complex.

The concerns were first highlighted by Heidelberg Nigel Heraut in May when residents raised complaints about non-functioning geysers, ageing water infrastructure, refuse accumulation, water interruptions and deteriorating conditions at the municipal-owned facility.

City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini provided a detailed response on June 19, assuring residents that the municipality was taking steps to address the concerns.

“We understand the concerns raised by residents and want to assure them that the municipality has appointed service providers to deal with geyser-related problems.

“The Nigel site remains a priority, and our teams are working to ensure the necessary repairs are addressed as soon as possible. Contractors have been appointed to undertake repairs and maintenance work.

“The current contract remains in place until the end of June, after which a new procurement process will be initiated to ensure continuity of service delivery,” he said.

Residents had also raised concerns about ageing water pipes and reports of discoloured water at the facility.

Dlamini said the municipality had already assessed the internal water reticulation infrastructure, and plans were in place to address ageing asbestos pipes.

“The assessment has been completed, and the replacement of ageing asbestos pipes is expected to be undertaken during the next financial year, subject to budgetary approvals.

“We have, however, not received any formal complaints relating to rust-coloured water. We are mindful of the challenges that water interruptions can create, particularly for senior citizens.

“During supply disruptions, municipal officials assist vulnerable residents, and in some instances, water tankers are stationed at the facility for extended periods to ensure residents have access to water when needed,” he said.

Dlamini added that waste collection services were operating according to schedule.

“Refuse is collected every Friday by the Waste Management Department, and residents are provided with bins to store waste until collection day. It is therefore incorrect to suggest that waste is not being collected.

“We remain committed to maintaining the facility and improving living conditions for residents. Maintenance and repairs are carried out annually, subject to budget allocations and procurement processes. We can also confirm that two vacant units are scheduled for maintenance and that three contract employees are responsible for the general upkeep of the complex,” he said.

However, residents now say that conditions remain unchanged.

Johan van der Berg (73) said that no repair work had yet been carried out.

“No repairs have been done to the issues that were reported, and many of us are still dealing with the same problems we were facing months ago. For elderly residents, these delays are extremely frustrating because we rely on these services every day.

“We were told that contractors had been appointed and that the matter was being prioritised, but from what we can see, nothing has happened.

“There are still large numbers of refuse bags on the premises, and the overall condition of the complex remains a concern. Many of the residents here are pensioners, and some have health challenges. We should not have to keep following up on basic maintenance issues.

“We are asking the municipality to come and see the situation for themselves and provide clear timelines on when these problems will be resolved,” he said.

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