Pensioners woes continue
“We feel like the forgotten people living here. They have promised us so much, and still nothing has been done.”
For years, the pensioners occupying in the Paterson Street pension homes, have been living in fear and anger.
According to the residents, the issues confronting them border on the extreme; cracked walls, no fences and zero accountability.
In February 2011 the municipality notified residents that the land would be subdivided and ownership transferred to them.
Residents say they were promised all problems would be fixed and the houses painted and renovated, before sub-division would take place.
Two years later, in February 2013, the land was surveyed by an independent contractor and the subdivisions were established. The future home owners received letters regarding the demarcation of the properties.
“It is now November. We do not have fences keeping the burglars and stray dogs out of our yards. The prostitutes come here to the field just across the road, and there are used condoms lying everywhere,” complained one resident, who wishes to remain anonymous.
The resident said that in the past years, the Department of Housing had fixed many problems surrounding these homes. However, these solutions were hard fought and won by constant letters of complaint and phone calls.
“There are still too many problems. The walls are cracking because of the trees, but we are not allowed to cut down the trees ourselves. There are no fences, but when we wanted to put fences up, the Department of Housing threatened to pull them down,” said the resident.
The residents fear that once the titles are handed over to them, all responsibility and costs for renovations to the homes will fall to them.
“We are pensioners. We don’t get a lot of money. How will we be able to fix these houses with our pension?” asked one resident.
“We feel like the forgotten people living here. They have promised us so much, and still nothing has been done.”
In reply to a written media enquiry, the Director of the Department of Housing and Land, Muzi Shozi, responded that the residents are aware that in the case of maintenance issues, they should approach the municipal office in the Nedbank building.
“My office is not aware that residents are not allowed to fix or repair their properties, as the lease agreements clearly stipulate that they need permission from the municipality before undertaking any work on the homes,” said Mr Shozi.
He concluded that no houses would be repaired before transfer. However, the department is dealing with all repairs, if brought to their attention, as long as the budget permits.
For the pensioners living in these homes, every day is a struggle to get response from the municipality.
The question still lingers, what will become of these homes? Must these residents fight to get a home fit to live in?
