The City Times visited the Western Extension building last week and spoke to several residents, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, who said they have had back-breaking work getting up and down to from their flats.
One of the residents, who has asthma, said one of the lifts was fixed recently, but packed up again shortly thereafter.
This has taken a toll on her health.
“It has affected me because I have chest problems,” she said from her flat.
“If I take the stairs I am out of breath.”
“… This is abuse of the elderly.”
A woman who is 65, told the City Times she has to walk up and down the stairs three times a day, sometimes with groceries, and at other times to do her washing on the ground level.
“I have to lie on my bed for an hour when I come back,” she said.
Another resident said she is disgusted by the lack of maintenance.
“It is terrible,” she added.
“There are people here who have had strokes.
“It is very, very hard going — it’s actually grim.
“What happens in an emergency if the place catches alight?”
A married couple, who live on the second floor, have also expressed their frustration.
The husband told the City Times that he had to carry his wife up the stairs while she sat in her wheelchair.
The man carried his wife to the first floor, rested for 10 minutes and then carried her up to their second-floor flat.
On another occasion, he said, his grandson paid two men R20 each to lift his wife to the same flat — a journey which took between 10 and 15 minutes.
The City Times was told that a woman with a broken foot and another who underwent a hip operation last week live in the block of flats.
Clr Samuel Ngobese, whose ward includes the block of flats, said the faulty lifts were reported to the municipality a year ago.
He said councillors will meet with Ekurhuleni officials on Friday, February 27, to discuss issues in their wards.
Ngobese said he will ask officials about the progress to have the lifts at Deneys Conradie Residentia repaired.
The City Times asked Ekurhuleni in an email, more than a week ago, when the lifts would be repaired.
No comment had been received at the time of going to print.
The lifts were still out of order by Monday morning.
