Facility fails to prove fire safety compliance

ERMELO – SAVF Huis Ermelo, a care facility responsible for some of the town’s most vulnerable residents, has repeatedly failed to provide documentation proving compliance with SANS 10400-T, the national fire safety standard for buildings.

Despite multiple enquiries from Highvelder, the facility management has yet to confirm whether it possesses a valid fire safety certificate.

Management’s response lacks clarity

In its most recent response to the newspaper, the SAVF management, through Maria Scholtz, head of marketing, acknowledged that it is working on improvements to its fire plan, but failed to provide proof of compliance, evacuation procedures, or clarity on whether frail care and Alzheimer’s residents participate fully in safety drills.

The facility claims that professional consultants oversee a multiphasic safety strategy, yet has not disclosed who these consultants are or their qualifications, merely that there is a four-month timeline for upgrades.

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Unanswered questions on safety upgrades

Questions regarding the nature of the upgrades were ignored.

The Msukaligwa Local Municipality and the Msukaligwa Fire and Rescue Services, the authorities responsible for enforcing fire safety compliance, have also failed to respond to repeated requests for clarity on the SAVF Huis Ermelo’s compliance.

Their continued silence raises doubts about whether adequate oversight is taking place at SAVF Huis Ermelo and whether other facilities in the area are subject to the same scrutiny.

Fire safety a life-and-death issue

Fire safety in care homes is not just a technical regulation – it is a matter of life and death for elderly and vulnerable residents who may have limited mobility or cognitive impairments.

The lack of transparency from both the facility and regulatory bodies leaves the public questioning who, if anyone, is ensuring their safety.

This is especially concerning given that a fire did occur in 2012. However, SAVF Huis Ermelo has chosen not to disclose details of the incident, citing respect for those affected.

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Evacuation preparedness in question

SAVF Huis Ermelo says it has purchased five additional wheelchairs and two hoist lift chairs to assist in emergency evacuations.

However, it has not been disclosed whether these resources are sufficient to evacuate all residents in the frail care and the Alzheimer’s section during an emergency.

The facility also claims that evacuation drills include all residents ‘as per their health status’, but it has failed to clarify what ‘as per their health status’ means in practice.

ALSO READ: More questions than answers at SAVF Huis Ermelo

Former employees have raised concerns that some frail care and Alzheimer’s residents are not actively included in evacuation drills, calling into question how prepared the facility truly is in the event of a fire.

Who ensures compliance if authorities don’t?

With SAVF Huis Ermelo not providing compliance documents after repeated requests by the newspaper, and local authorities remaining silent, the question remains – who is ensuring that the old age home meets fire safety standards?

Highvelder sent Scholtz numerous questions in its last email, most of which remain unanswered.

Some received vague responses, despite Highvelder’s request for detailed, evidence-backed answers, rather than vague claims about stakeholder approvals of strategies and/or carefully worded responses designed to mislead the community.

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For several weeks, SAVF Huis Ermelo has failed to provide this proof, despite being given multiple opportunities to do so. If the necessary authorities fail to act, families of residents and the broader public may need to demand greater transparency and accountability from SAVF’s management.