Would-be tenants of the units at Presidentia have grown increasingly frustrated by the City of Ekurhuleni’s lack of response to their enquiries.
Presidentia is a council-owned complex in Geduld that caters for single pensioners.
For a nominal fee, the elderly can rent a unit from the City.
Ward councillor Dean Stone said he has over the past six months been inundated with calls from the elderly who claim they have not been helped by the City.
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“The elderly call me, crying for help, and I direct them to the Springs housing department to submit their application. However, they say they have not been helped.
“I have been there a number of times over the past month and have found their offices closed. Why are they not being helped?” asked Stone.
There are 23 empty units in the complex, all ready for tenants to move into, with some having been vacant since 2019.
The units that were seen by the Advertiser were in apparent perfect condition.
Stone questioned why the City was dragging its feet, especially when there are so many elderly people in need of affordable accommodation.
Others complained to Stone about being on the waiting list for council-owned housing for years with no progress.
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“There are as many as 300 people waiting to be placed and we have no indication of how much progress the City has made into placing those people.
“As ward councillors, we cannot interfere with that process, but at the same time there is no oversight committee to make sure the City is placing people according to the list,” said Stone.
In addition to the empty units, it is claimed that maintenance has not been done at Presidentia.
The communal lights don’t work and there is sewage flowing in different parts of the complex.
Residents allege they have reported it to the City but nothing has been done.
“There is simply no excuse for maintenance not being done. We’re four months into a new financial year, so it cannot be a problem of funding,” said Stone.
Comment requested from the City of Ekurhuleni will be published once it has been received.
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