When the elevator first broke down in February, these senior citizens thought it was just a minor problem and that it would be solved in no time.
However, after several alleged promises by the metro to repair the faulty elevator, some of the residents still have to climb five flights of stairs to the top floor.
Johan Enslin, caretaker of the complex, claims several people have made changes to the elevator’s electrical box in the past, which means it needs to be completely rewired.
Read: LISTEN: Markville complex without elevator for six months
“We don’t know what the problem is, what to do and who to turn to for help. All we are asking is for the elevator to be fixed,” he says.
Ward Clr Dean Stone was shocked by the news of Michael du Toit (84) who recently had to climb five flights of stairs after being discharged from a local hospital.
Du Toit’s wife, Martie (79), says they have to make use of a rope to hoist their groceries to the fourth floor where they live as they cannot carry the groceries all the way to the top.
Another resident, Nic van Straaten (61), who lives on the third floor hasn’t left his flat in almost three months.
“I am a diabetic and because my legs are swollen, I cannot walk properly and need help to get up from the chair to my bed,” he says.
This is where Van Straaten spends most of his time and where his medicine is being delivered to.
“I have not been to a doctor for a medical check-up in three months,” he says.
Stone says the metro knows perfectly well all the residents living at Markville are senior citizens.
“Their ignorance to the elevator problem is unacceptable,” he says.
Read: Enough is enough – say residents
Despite sending questions and several reminders to the metro, no response was received at the time of publishing.
