Their golden years have become years of neglect.

Instead of peace, many residents at Eeufees Oord Retirement Village are living with leaking roofs, black mould, broken infrastructure, and growing safety concerns, prompting the community to step in where they say the system has fallen short.

Friends of Eeufees documented these harsh living conditions affecting the residents, after they were prompted by repeated pleas for help from pensioners, and concerns over the safety, health, and dignity of residents living at the facility.

Read more: Audit lifts lid on unsafe conditions facing Eeufees Oord Retirement Village

One of the members, Brian Smith, said the turning point came after witnessing an elderly resident fall in complete darkness, suffering a broken arm and severe facial injuries. His wife, Bronwyn, said residents themselves had reached out to the community for assistance as conditions continued to worsen.

Community steps in as conditions deteriorate

Smith said elderly residents have also reported theft, and no longer feel safe after the removal of security guards and the failure of the main gate motor, leaving the facility reliant on a lock-and-key system. Among the cases documented during the audit was a resident in his 90s living beneath a ceiling covered in black mould, while another elderly resident reportedly collapsed shortly after volunteers documented the conditions inside her unit.

Volunteers have since begun compiling a comprehensive audit, documenting plumbing faults, electrical issues, mould, roof leaks, drainage problems, damaged paving, overgrown gardens, and other safety hazards. The audit is helping prioritise the most urgent repairs, while providing documented evidence to government departments, businesses, and potential donors.

The community has also launched an adopt-a-light campaign, replacing 20 streetlight globes and faulty day/night switches, with another 25 lights scheduled for replacement.

The group is also appealing for plumbers, electricians, builders, roof repair specialists, painters, security companies, businesses, and volunteers to assist with restoring the village.

Questions raised over vacant units

One of the major concerns raised by Friends of Eeufees is the number of vacant units within the retirement village. They estimated that more than 30 units currently stand empty, while several elderly residents continue living in units affected by mould, leaking rooves, and unsafe conditions.

Also read: Here’s what the city had to say about the maintenance at Westdene’s Eeufees Oord

The group questioned why vulnerable residents could not be temporarily relocated into vacant units requiring only minor cleaning or maintenance, while larger refurbishment projects are planned. Bronwyn also challenged businesses to adopt-a-unit as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes by sponsoring maintenance, security improvements, or repairs. “If your company can sponsor a golf day, a year-end function, or a marketing campaign, can you sponsor a pensioner’s safety, comfort, and dignity?”

City acknowledges backlog and security concerns

City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane confirmed the municipality is aware of safety concerns at Eeufees, particularly regarding security following the lapse of a security services contract. He said responsibility for security falls under public safety and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), with discussions underway to restore security services at senior citizens’ villages, including Eeufees. “The old age villages have been put forward for prioritisation with provision of security services. However, due to operational and capacity constraints, the rollout of security to all sites has become a challenge.”

Regarding maintenance concerns, Modingoane said the ageing facility requires significant refurbishment, including repairs to rooves, gutters, water and sewer networks, and other infrastructure. He said these upgrades have been incorporated into the department of human settlements’ five-year maintenance plan, but remain dependent on available funding.

While major refurbishment projects await funding, the department will continue responding to reported maintenance faults through reactive maintenance interventions, where budgets permit, while a broader process to address the maintenance backlog remains underway.

Modingoane said the city remains committed to improving conditions at Eeufees through both immediate maintenance interventions and longer-term refurbishment plans, although implementation will continue to depend on internal processes and financial resources.

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