The Claremont Housing Cottage old age home on Lundean Cresent is in ruin.
According to resident Gail van Loggerenberg, who has been staying at the home for 21 years, they live in dire conditions.
“Over the past two months, our sewage has been running and we have reported the incident to the council and no one wants to help,” she said.
“It stinks here, we cannot eat, we can’t open our windows or doors. I am the one who is most affected because it is in front of my house,” she said.
Currently, the old age home accommodates 14 people.
She added that not only are they affected by unhygienic living conditions, but she and other residents also fear for their lives as there is crime in the area.
According to another resident Dalene Rheeder, she and her husband have also fell victim to crime.
“Our things have been stolen a couple of times, some people knock on our doors at night claiming to sell cellphones. Whenever we report our problems to the council, they always say it is our problem and we are the only ones to blame.
We are old and we feel unsafe, because what if someone murders anyone from the old age home,” she said.
According to Ward 82 councillor Suzan Stewart there are a lot of challenges in her ward.
“I have reported the matter to the City of Johannesburg, however the council is not dealing adequately with the situation,” she said.
She also added, “I have no control over how long the City will take to fix the problem, and residents should know that I am trying my best. For now, Housing said they are awaiting quotations for security purposes for the old age home, and they will also be doing a site inspection to see what is happening with the sewage problem – as soon as that is done I will report back to residents,” Stewart said.
Questions were sent to the Department of Housing and comment is awaited.
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