Couple appreciates love from councillor and residents
Jan mentioned the warmth they received from the residents when they moved in on Friday.
After almost giving up on finding a place to stay, Jan and Adri Phillipson thanked Ward 55 councillor Rashieda Landis for her intervention.
The couple moved to Bellavista Old Age Home on November 5 and they are excited and thankful to Landis. Jan said his wife was at her wits’ end. At one stage she didn’t have the will to live.
The Phillipsons’ story
The Phillipsons are Joburgers through and through.“We lived in Johannesburg the whole of our lives. I worked in Soweto for 17 years and Telkom for years.
“In 2017 the company I was working for was liquidated. I tried to start my business but it didn’t work. We had to relocate to East London for two years,” he said.
When they came back they found a living space in a backyard.
“Life was unbearable. I can say we were like slaves. Absolutely no privacy, as a man I had to bathe outside. The deal was that we work in the yard for our meals and on top of that pay R1 200 from our Sassa pension grant.
“We fixed cars, cleaned the yard and the house, we did everything. My wife couldn’t take it anymore,” explained Jan.
Hope on the horizon
It all started after they registered online to vote.
“The councillor phoned and said they will provide us with transport to go and vote. While her husband was transporting us, we told him about our plight. He mentioned we should apply for housing and we told him we did apply in January and we are waiting for their response.
“I would walk from Turffontein to Braamfontein’s 222 Smith Street (City of Johannesburg Housing Department) once a month and they will tell me to wait.
“Landis called us to inform us that there is a space available at Bellavista Old Age Home and we need to go to Braamfontein to furnish them will all the relevant documents. We went there and she facilitated everything. I got the contract for living here. I am grateful to the councillor and her husband for helping us,” he said.
Jan mentioned the warmth they received from the residents when they moved in on Friday.
“I seemed like we’ve known these people for more than 20 years. Everyone was happy and welcoming. We had a few things but now our home is full because they helped us a lot. We can feel that we are humans again. Thank you,” noted Jan.
