PHOTOS: Wentworth flat dwellers fear for safety due to unstable structures

THE residents of a block of flats in Wentworth fear that they could soon lose their homes or even lives due to alleged shoddy workmanship.

The residents of the flats, situated at the corner of Lansdowne and Silvertree roads, said the R43-million housing project by the eThekwini Municipality and KZN Department of Human Settlements, was meant to provide them with ‘proper housing’; instead, it is crumbling beneath their feet.

Also read: WATCH: Government addresses Wentworth residents housing concerns

Allan Holmes, a resident and the Ward 68 committee chairperson for housing and human settlements, said the residents were moved into flats from the ‘Barracks’, a temporary housing situated along Tara Road in 2010.

“We were moved to the Barracks from our tin homes in Duranta Road so new flats could be built for us. However, those flats were occupied by other people, and we remained at the barracks for 37 years until we were forcefully removed and moved to this place.

“We never wanted to leave our old homes as we had proper houses, yards and even a park for the children to play in. We protested but were told that if we didn’t want to move, then we should go find somewhere else to live. There were so many elderly people who had no choice but to come here. But look at their living conditions now,” he said.

Holmes said since moving into the dwelling, which consists of various blocks and 128 units, they have experienced various issues.

“From the day we moved in, there were always repairs that needed to be done. The baths were cracking, the taps would fly off when opened, the lights didn’t work and the electrical plug points would shock us. The windows would fall as we opened them. For the first few years, the repairs would be done, but that stopped.

“We are now faced with broken sewerage pipes, leaking baths, faulty water meters and faulty toilet systems, poor water and electricity infrastructure, as well as leaning building structures, structurally unsound staircases and leaking roofs. We are fed up and just want them to come to do the necessary repairs properly this time, or build us new homes back at the Barracks so we can live in peace again,” he said.

Elaine Pieterse, a resident, said she has been escalating the residents’ concerns to the various stakeholders over the years but has not received any joy. She has since written to the Democratic Alliance for help.

“We have had endless meetings, but nothing is being done. We even had the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) come out to do a quality check. They compiled a report on their findings and recommendations. We are still waiting for those recommendations to be implemented.

Also read: City’s housing project brings hope for lower-income families

“We even handed over our concern to the KZN MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Sipho Nkosi, when he came to the area for a meeting but still nothing. How much longer are we expected to live like this? Will something only be done when one of the buildings collapses and kills our families?” she said.

Marlaine Nair, DA’s spokesperson on human settlements in KZN, said they have called on the MEC to provide an urgent update.

She said the call was made in the form of a motion tabled by the DA in the KZN Legislature after desperate pleas from the community for assistance.

“The DA’s calls for an update on the project come after the NHBRC last submitted a report in 2014. Almost a decade later, the recommendations made have never been implemented by the department. This common thread of compromising on quality of workmanship and refusing to deal with outstanding housing issues can be seen all across our province.

“Furthermore, the DA expects the MEC to act with urgency. Lansdowne’s ongoing defects and maintenance issues must be dealt with and closure brought to the project. This development has already cost the government far more than initially budgeted, yet the issues remain,” she said.

Gugu Sisilana, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, said they are currently conducting water-related as well as other emergency repairs.

“However, there are rent collection challenges which hinder income generation, so other repairs will follow when the budget is available. If residents delay payment of rent, this, in turn, impacts on the available budget to conduct necessary maintenance repairs, so the residents are an integral part of improving the living conditions where they reside by ensuring timeous payment of rent,” she said.

Sisilana said the City’s Rental Housing Department has been requesting maintenance-funding repairs from the Provincial Department of Human Settlement.

“This was in response to recommendations of the NHBRC report.”

Also read: WATCH: Wentworth families illegally occupy temporary housing area

Sisilana added that the residents would not be able to be moved back to the Barracks.

“As far as the historical documents, this cannot be an option. The reason for the relocation of the residents from the Barracks was that they were living in a sub-economic slum area, which was situated very close to the Engen Refinery, which had major hazardous installation.”

The KZN MEC of Human Settlements and Public Works did not respond at the time of publishing.

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