RECORD has been following the plight of residents from Silwerkroon Old Age Home who has been without a working lift for several months (since June).
Companies and individual lift specialists have offered to repair the lift free of charge, but have been blocked at every turn.
Also Read: The elderly still forced to brave the stairs
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has said they are planning to replace the entire lift in December, continuing with a tender process to do so.
EMM’s statement read: “Lifts are regulated in OSH Act 85 of 93 and the Department of Labour. The lift requires some parts to be replaced and the Annexures (A and B) to be reissued. The lifts are also using Schindler or OEM controls systems (specific logarithm coding).
The chances of the volunteers to successfully and effectively fix the machine will be challenged due to the parts and controls configurations, simply meaning that they will still end up contacting the manufacturer of the lift.
“Lastly the volunteer assistance might compromise our public liability if the service provider in any given fork has not entered into an agreement or Section 37(2) OHS act.”
Gene Fivas, in a letter to ward Clr Alderman Bruna Haipel, had this to say:
“I thought we have done away with the death penalty?! Now we have people trying to hang themselves with ‘red tape.’ Are we embarking on the same road that Gauteng Government find themselves in the ‘Esidimeni’ tragedy?
“I am sure the gratuitous repair benefactors are highly skilled and know what they are doing, understand the requirements of the OSH Act, are prepared to provide the required certificates and certification, know where to resource the required spares and parts and arrange for the Department of Labour to attend and approve the work done.
“Instead of finding 10 reasons for not doing a very necessary restoration, why do the people in charge not speak to the volunteers and establish the Bona Fides of the person(s). It seems that many of the officials we deal with operate on the ‘half empty glass’ philosophy.
“If the charitable solution is unacceptable then simply escalate the repair project or are we going to wait for an elderly person to suffer a traumatic organ failure as a result of having to use the stairs.
Of course, the EMM may opt for the alternative of accommodating these elderly residents in hotels and guest houses until such time as the lifts have been reinstated.”
In spite of concerns, one of the companies, sourced by AfriForum Alberton, have stated that they are willing to do the repairs free of charge, service the lift for one full year after repair (for free) and are more than happy to get all necessary certification and coverage for insurance purposes.
The RECORD also forwarded all details of the company willing to repair and service the lift for free for a year, to Alderman Izak Berg, the chairperson of oversight community safety, who gave the undertaking to follow it up and through as a matter of urgency.
For now, the elderly are still forced to be homebound or brave the stairs at their own peril.
RECORD will keep readers updated on any developments with this story.
Also Read:
Ward councillor on problems at Silwerkroon
Please help residents of Silwerkroon Old Age Home
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