ETHEKWINI Municipality is in the process of securing a service provider to attend to an ‘uninhabitable’ flat in Kenneth Gardens.
The city was responding to an article in this week’s Berea Mail that highlighted the conditions of a council flat that the city has rented to a tenant who is a chronic asthma sufferer. The flat has cold concrete flooring, rotten door frames infested with borer and windows without handles. The tenant explained that when he moved into the flat with his family six months ago, it was filled with rubble and he had to paint the walls and door frames to make the flat look more habitable.
In response to queries from Berea Mail Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said: “Council owned rental stock is very limited in comparison with the high numbers of people that require housing in the City. The unit meant for the tenant was invaded and the invader left it in a bad condition. The illegal occupant was given eviction notices and he vacated the flat.”
She said the municipality’s maintenance office was advised of the condition that the invader left the unit in.
“Since the rightful tenant moved in, the flat has been inspected and procurement processes are underway to secure a service provider to attend to the damages to the flat made by the illegal occupier,” said Mthethwa.
