No solution yet for Jabulani rehabilitation centre

THE once vibrant Jabulani Rehabilitation Centre outside Empangeni is in a state of disrepair and residents have had no running water for more than two months.

The centre faces closure because of a shortage of funds and the organisation running it, the Association for the Physically-Challenged (APC), says it can no longer afford to keep it going.

Of the 22 residents, 10 are still waiting for RDP house allocation at Dumisane Makhaye Village.

Addressing the residents and government officials at a meeting on Wednesday, centre Manager Jane Chennels said,

‘The longer we keep the centre, the more we sink into debt. Last year alone we needed R171 000 to keep it afloat and this year the expenses might escalate to R300 000.’

ALSO READ: Jabulani Centre to close down

After putting the centre up for sale two years ago, APC said they received firm offers from interested buyers, but could not sell it with the 10 residents still staying there.

An appeal was made to the Department of Human Settlements to provide housing for the 10 remaining residents.
Chennels said even though they have been promised two more houses, that is not enough.

Because of the financial crisis some staff had to be retrenched, leaving residents with no one to help them with their projects.

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