Conditions of the flats are appalling
There are countless families that live in the flats all around the Greater Eldorado Park community.
There are countless families that live in the flats all around the Greater Eldorado Park community. However, if you do not stay at the flats, have you taken the time to look at some of the conditions that these people live in?
Some conditions are bearable and others are just appalling. Goud street flats are a perfect example of what appalling conditions look like.
Majiet Armien from the Local Development and Economic Civil Association said, “People came to the office of LDECA complaining regarding the service delivery of provincial housing.”
Armien said, “To date, certain portions are being repaired but not 100 percent. Block H number three, the conditions inside are appalling. Block E, the same story.”
Some of these conditions at the flats are so bad, people at the flats complain about how it affects their chests and gives them sinus problems.
Mould and fungus grow on the windows and walls from the water bursts inside the walls, some of the walls are cracked and water comes seeping through these cracks. Are those considered decent living conditions?
A response from the Department of Human Settlements regarding the way forward for the flats is as follows
1. What are the steps that are going to be taken to deal with the conditions at the flats?
Luzuko Pongoma Media Relations and Publications speaker for the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, said, “In 2017, the project to refurbish the flats was started but towards the end of the year, the contractor pulled out from the site because of the challenges they faced on the site
“Challenges centered on the fact that the business forum wanted to do the project themselves and the contractor felt that it would not be worth their while to continue on that note.
“There were many meetings held with the business forum to try to resolve this problem but these did not help, hence the contractor pulled out of the contract.”
-
Also read: Legends Barbershop has a new home
Pongoma said that the Department has taken a decision to re-advertise the project for tender so that a new contractor can be sourced.
The business forum has been advised that government advertises tenders and all business owners who are interested in doing such work need to respond to the tender; otherwise, they cannot be given the work once the appointment has been concluded.
According to Pangoma, once the budget is approved, the PRT (Professional Resource Team), which is the equivalent of a professional consultancy firm, will be sourced and the new contractor for refurbishment will be appointed through the Department Supply Chain Processes.
The PRT provides guidance on the extent, quality, and cost of work while the contractor implements this in the form of fixing various faults.
2. Will there be fire hydrants installed in case of a fire?
Pongoma said, “Yes, fire hose reels will be installed, amongst other critical aspects, at the flats as per Council requirements to put the building at acceptable health and safety standards.”
3. What is the time frame for dealing with these matters?
Pongoma said, “Maintenance of the flats is ongoing, our turnaround time is each contractor has to be on site within 7 days from the day of receiving the instruction to fix a fault or problem and they are constantly monitored to finish timeously.
The refurbishment of this flat will be planned and budgeted for in the 2019/2020 financial year, as other flats have already been planned and budgeted for in the 2018/2019 financial year, as well as the fact that during the 2018/2019 financial year, a reassessment of the building needs to be done to get a comprehensive bill of quantities.”
