Department is aware of the dilapidated infrastructure and vandalism

Human Settlements Department said they are aware of the dilapidated infrastructure and vandalism in old age homes in the city.

This is after DA councillor in Ward 54, Stuart Marais, said the Department of Human Settlements places the elderly at risk.

He said vulnerable elderly residents of Annie Burger, Xavier and Carrick Retirement Villages are fearing for their health and safety following exposure to severe sewer and water leaks, which have flooded their villages due to collapsing infrastructure.

“The dilapidated sewage infrastructure of these old-age villages falls under the Department of Human Settlements. The pipe bursts are exposing the elderly to raw sewage, posing a serious health hazard, especially those who make use of oxygen machines and are chronically ill.

“The DA investigated the matter and discovered that apart from the collapsing infrastructure, some copper sewer pipes had been stolen. This has resulted in water flooding the retirement villages for the past two weeks.

“After several calls for help by the DA, the provincial Department of Human Settlements visited the retirement villages but to date, nothing has been done to address this ongoing disaster,” he said.

He noted that the health and safety of the elderly living at Annie Burger, Xavier and Carrick retirement villages are at risk.

“Dirty and idling water can cause various diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and skin rashes. It is unacceptable that residents are subjected to these living conditions.

“The DA demands that the departments of human settlement and social development work together to find a contingent plan that will fix the dilapidating sewer infrastructure at these retirement villages.

“We will also liaise with our counterparts in the provincial legislature to put pressure on the various departments, including the Department of Community Safety to assist with necessary patrolling to deal with the criminals taking advantage of these retirement villages. The DA will continue to fight for the basic rights of our elderly citizens, as they are a valuable part of our society.”

Director of the Department of Human Settlements, Patrick Phophi, said they are aware of the situation.

“We have recently placed private security at various facilities and are procuring security measures in the form of barbed wires, electric fences, cameras, upgrading perimeter fencing, and more.

“We have also developed a three-year maintenance plan that looks at upgrading the dilapidated infrastructure. Year one (2022/23 financial years) of this maintenance plan is looking at upgrading the security upgrades, water and sewer infrastructure and structural repair work in 17 facilities out of the 39 facilities.

“In the absence of a panel of contractors to attend to emergencies, the department is using the provincial Department of Human Settlements to attend to emergency works. For the planned maintenance works we are busy with the procurement process,” explained Phophi.