Florida family still in limbo

The Cozens family from Florida is no closer to a solution after a massive Eucalyptus (blue gum) tree fell onto their home on February 18.

Allen Cozens, whose warnings to local authorities about the danger posed by the tree had seemingly fallen on deaf ears for the past three years, is now left with nothing.

“Everything I own is ruined,” says a distraught Cozens. “When the tree came crashing through our roof on Sunday, I made sure my family got to safety and then immediately set about contacting the relevant people. None of them was willing to come to my aid on a rainy Sunday night.

“I spent a sleepless night in my car, worrying about my wife and son who had been taken to hospital via ambulance. Luckily their injuries were not serious.”

• Read the initial article here: Gigantic tree destroys house

The next morning, Cozens once again tried to get hold of the relevant department officials, as well as the local ward councillor. He eventually got hold of some of them and managed to arrange a site visit.

“The people from the Department of Human Settlements as well as Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn came out. The Human Settlements staff could not care less. Clr Finn was very helpful, but this not being his ward, there was not too much he could do.”

Cozens says that it was eventually agreed that they would be offered temporary housing at the nearby Donald McDonald Old Age Home.

“I waited the entire Monday for the truck to arrive and transport my things. It eventually started raining heavily, resulting in the few items that had not been completely ruined the previous night, also sustaining significant damage.”

The truck sent by the department eventually arrived in the early evening – while it was still raining.

Cozens expressed his heartfelt thanks to the community for all the help they have provided.
“The community of Jerusalema Informal Settlement stepped up and helped. They were the ones assisting when the incident occurred. They came out in numbers in the heavy rain and helped us.

“When Human Settlements sent trucks to move my possessions, they did not send anyone to load. The community helped to secure my possessions and load them all on the trucks. Some even went along to help unload at Donald McDonald’s. My family and I are eternally grateful for the help and support from the local community.”

Cozens’ was also grateful for a dry place to sleep, but that was short-lived.

“Imagine my surprise when I arrived there, only to find that they were putting us up in an unused, windowless store room.

“My wife and child were discharged from hospital by this time, but I could not let them stay there with me. We did not even have dry clothes, a blanket, or a mattress. Everything was completely soaked.”

Cozens sent his wife and son to a relative’s house for the time being.

“I asked Winsley [from the department] what is going to happen regarding this, and he said that they would provide me with materials so I can rebuild. I am not a builder. How am I supposed to just rebuild a house?”

The Roodepoort Record managed to get hold of Winsley, who in turn referred us to a communications officer for the department. The official requested that questions be submitted in writing, which was done. No reply has yet been received.

The Record managed to secure a meeting with Ward 127 councillor Mboneni Teke Tabane, who insists that he is doing everything in his power to assist Cozens.

“I have been pushing from my end to get the department to address and resolve this issue.”

According to Tabane, the issue initially was that, according to City Parks, the Cozens’ home needed to be disassembled and moved as there was no way to safely remove the tree while the informal dwelling was in the way.

“The department indicated that they could not move the shack, and suggested that I get the community together to do it. I refused this, as it is not my place to appoint community members for this. Some departments deal with this sort of thing.”

Tabane has since advised Cozens, who is a pensioner, to register with the relevant authority for an RDP house.
“As Mr Cozens is a pensioner, there are processes in place to prioritise his application. I have also committed to do everything in power to help escalate his application.”

In the meanwhile, Cozens is considering taking legal action against the department for the losses he has incurred as a result of this situation.

Cozens and his family are still living in the storeroom at the old age centre and are awaiting further communication from the department.