Elderly residents at Markville flats neglected
Johan had colon cancer and suffers from prostate cancer, thus the effort of climbing the stairs causes him a great deal of physical discomfort and pain.
Residents of Markville flats suffer and feel neglected as the building’s lift has been out of order for three years. Markville is exclusively occupied by couples of 60 years and older.
These elders are forced to walk up and down five flights of stairs every time they have to leave the building.
Johan Enslin has been living in Markville for five years with his wife, Toekkie, and says he has been trying to get help from the municipality for the past three years, but they failed to help him.
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“The elevator broke on February 28, 2016, when a woman tried to haul a massive fridge up to her apartment,” says Toekkie.
“The only people who have been able to help us is AfriForum,” says Johan.
In September 2016, AfriForum’s Jannie Cilliers fixed a broken drain pipe which had caused flooding.
“There were people here who were very ill.
“They couldn’t walk, they couldn’t get to a doctor and in three years, six people have died,” says Johan.
“This is a retirement complex, people need to visit their doctors regularly, but are unable to do so due to the broken elevator.
“They can’t get treatment, they can’t get medicine.
“They can’t walk, they have heart problems.
“We can’t let this continue to happen, we can’t allow more people to die.
“Something has to be done,” says Toekkie.
Elders suffering from joint problems, heart problems, diabetes and some who have suffered strokes have to endure carrying their own groceries to their flats, posing a great threat to their well-being.
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Johan had colon cancer and suffers from prostate cancer, thus the effort of climbing the stairs causes him a great deal of physical discomfort and pain.
Johan stated he has been trying to get an appointment with the metro for the past three weeks.
Toekkie states: “The housing department has let us down, they just won’t help us.”
Johan and Toekkie urgently seek answers from the metro.
Springs Advertiser has been reporting on the Markville elevator problem since September 2016 and has been told, by the metro, on numerous occasions that the lift would be fixed imminently.
In July 2017, the paper was assured the problem would be fixed in the same month.
On November 13, 2018, the metro responded that they have purchased lifts that they will install.
Themba Gadebe of the metro stated: “However, the contract between the metro and the contractor for installation expired on June 30, due to the delays.
“The metro met with the service provider on October 17 regarding a variation of the expired contract and no agreement was reached.
“Therefore, the metro will present to council another procurement request that seeks approval for deviating from the normal procurement process due to the time that has already lapsed.
“The deviation is for appointing the same contractor without following a lengthy procurement process.”
On February 13, 2019, Gadebe followed up with the following statement: “The metro has procured lifts and is currently in a process of acquiring the services of a competent company to install the lifts.
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“The company is expected to attend to all properties from July 1 until October 31.
“We do apologise for the delay and request patience from affected residents while we allow the supply chain process to ensure an experienced company is on board.”
Ward councillor Dean Stone says: “I went to Markville flats when Anna Robertson was still a journalist at the Springs Advertiser in 2017.
“I also petitioned council on the matter.
“The latest news I received is that a tender has gone out to repair the lifts.
“They are doing a combined tender as Tweedie Park in Brakpan and other flats in Alberton also need new lifts.
“They estimated to have repairs done by August.
“This situation is extremely frustrating as I’ve tried everything in my power to have these lifts attend to.
“There are elderly and sick people struggling daily to climb the stairs at Markville flats.
“I think it is shocking how the ANC-led coalition has treated these elderly people.”
The metro has failed to respond in time for publication.
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