WATCH: Fairleigh tenants finally crack
Their municipal homes continue to crumble around their feet despite numerous appeals for help from the municipality.
Residents in David Street, Fairleigh are furious.
Their municipal homes continue to crumble around their feet despite numerous appeals for help from the municipality.
They feel they are being treated worse than animals.
“We have had enough and will not stand for this any longer!” say the Fairleigh residents.
Each time problems are raised they say, the municipality promises to send someone to repair the defects. Someone does arrive, but after slapping on a thin layer of paint they march off never to be seen again and none of the more serious issues are attended to.
“We are GATVOL man! Every single day we waste our time begging the municipality to help us. Begging them to fix our homes so that we can also live like human beings,” says resident Beryl Jacobs angrily.
If what Beryl says is true, the municipality can expect Fairleigh residents to start protesting as they are that angry and frustrated with the situation. Newcastle Municipality’s Customer Relations Manager Dr Dumisani Thabethe, has called for calm and reassured residents saying repairs to David Street municipal homes is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2019.
Furthermore, should funds be made available in the 2019/2020 budget, then repair issues will be a thing of the past with routine maintenance carried out as and when a tenant reports it, he promised.
Thabethe revealed delays in repairs was due to financial constraints and commented that the plan was to attend to one home per financial year.
“In other words funds available on the 2018/2019 budget will be for units 25 and 26 with an amount of R42,000 being made available for them,” he explained.
The question of title deeds has once again raised its head. Dr Tabethe confirmed title deeds would be handed over to residents once all repair and renovation work has been completed.
“Those who are prepared to take ownership of these units as they are however, are welcome to come and apply in terms of the Government Enhanced Discount Benefit Scheme (EEDBS) but it must also be made clear that once a person has taken ownership of a particular unit, no repairs or maintenance will be done on a privately owned property,” he concluded.
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