‘We need service delivery’ – ESCA
“The managers are aware and we have seen the emails they send to the municipality but nothing gets done.”
The condition of Edenvale’s Community Centre has left much to be desired by members of Edenvale Senior Citizen’s Association (ESCA).
As you drive onto the centre’s property, you could be led to believe that everything is in order but as you take a closer look one starts to notice numerous problems.
A wheelie bin can be seen lying in a collapsed manhole in the parking lot, the centre’s courtyard is overgrown with hip-high weeds and the gardens remain largely unmaintained.
In addition to this, electricity at the centre frequently trips if too many electrical appliances are plugged in at once.
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“As tenants at the centre, we are extremely grateful for the facility but infrastructure needs to be maintained and services provided,” said former ESCA chairperson Janet Jewell.
ESCA vice chairperson Linda Ranwell said the association has reported the problems numerous times but to no avail.
She said in order to address these issues the association reports the matters to the municipal manager on duty at the centre.
“The managers are aware and we have seen the emails they send to the municipality but nothing gets done,” said Jewell.
Ranwell said on previous occasions ESCA has had to call upon private individuals to attend to matters as a result of the lack of response from the municipality.
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Although Ranwell is uncertain when the bin was placed in the manhole, she said the overgrown vegetation is a longstanding issue.
Jewell explained that contractors recently visited the centre to asses the electrical infrastructure but have not returned since.
“We are extremely worried about these matters not being attended to, we are on a deadline as we have an upcoming market at the end of the month,” said Ranwell.
The morning market on November 24 is one of many events ESCA hosts throughout the year to raise funds for the association.
The association hopes to attract the community to the centre and would like to have it in a presentable condition.
“As an NPO, we depend on these functions a great deal,” said Ranwell.
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“We use the funds raised to cover general costs and pay for things which the municipality should do.”
A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni on November 13 at 3.46pm.
Comment was requested by November 15 at 3.45pm.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
