State of Pauline Davis seen as violation of elderly’s human rights

Section 10 of the South African Constitution provides that everyone has a right to have their dignity respected and protected.

The Older Persons Act criminalises all forms of abuse of older persons because abuse, ill-treatment, violence, or neglect of an elderly person strips them of their dignity.

Despite this, the 160 residents of Pauline Davis Court, on Harpur Avenue, have lived with gurgling sewage, while others have not had access to running water for the past nine months.

Speaking to the Benoni City Times on condition of anonymity, the residents feel their complaints about the living conditions in the municipal flats are being ignored.

“I have been a resident of Pauline Davis for 19 years. Things have deteriorated to the point that we are overwhelmed by the stench of raw sewage, not to mention having to carry buckets of water to our flats to flush a toilet,” said one resident.

“When we do complain to the housing department, we are told by the head that complainants will be evicted from their homes.

”Out of fear of losing our homes, we have remained quiet, but the decay is now impacting our health and dignity.”

Speaking on behalf of the residents, who are SASSA pensioners, Debbie dos Reis said the residents have become increasingly isolated and, in extreme cases, severely depressed.

“Not only do these people not have access to basic services, such as water and sanitation, but they also live in constant fear that their leases might be revoked because they dare to speak up,” she said.

“The state of these municipal residences earmarked for the aged is in contravention of local and international human rights.

“Our aged seem to have been forgotten, while the metro uses budgetary constraints as an excuse to justify vulnerable persons to live among human excrement and pests.”

According to information, the units on the third storey have not had running water since July.

“Residents have to lug buckets of water up dimly lit stairs and rickety fire escapes up to six times a day,” she said.

“These people have not been able to enjoy a soak in a warm bath but risk injury just to cleanse themselves.”

Residents further claim that a suspected blockage in the sewage line outside the facility resulted in sewage flooding the grounds, including the laundry room.

“The laundry room houses residents’ personal washing machines, but it has been damaged or cannot be used due to the room being covered in effluent,” said Ronnie Armorgan, the chairperson of the Pauline Davis Court Residents’ Association.

“Residents surrounding the room dare not leave a door or window open as the smell is overwhelming. Some residents already suffer from respiratory illnesses which are further aggravated.”

Armorgan said that because of the suspected blockage, coupled with no to low water, toilets inside some units cannot be flushed, and the cistern tanks must be filled manually.

“Once flushed, wastewater bubbles up from other drains. This is not how old folk should be spending their golden years,” he said.

Dos Reis said the two elevators at the housing complex were repaired in 2021 but due to theft and vandalism by unknown persons gaining access to the grounds, the access points have been stripped of all electrical cabling and other essential working mechanisms.

“Criminality is rife, therefore, eight residents have taken it upon themselves to join the Benoni CPF and have established rotational patrols within the confines of the facility,” said Armorgan.

“The CPF graciously donated CCTV cameras with live feeds to the internal and external members as well as solar-powered lights. However, these were not allowed to be installed as it was not acquired according to the housing department’s processes.

“Safety and security have now become our priority, yet no support is forthcoming from the metro.”

Dos Reis said that just because residents are paying subsidised rent, does not constitute them receiving inadequate services.

“Our aged deserve better,” she said.

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