ETHEKWINI Municipality insists it is in the process of securing a service provider to attend to an ‘uninhabitable’ flat in Kenneth Gardens, despite the fact the tenant was told it would only be addressed in the next financial year.
The city responded to an article in a September edition of Berea Mail that highlighted the conditions of a council flat 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 eight months ago, it was filled with rubble and he had to paint the walls and door frames to make the flat look more habitable.
This week, in a meeting with ward councillor, Mmabatho Tembe, the resident said he was told by a woman who inspected the flat that it would only be seen to in July next year.
“The budget was allocated to Housing this July – what happened to this money?” he asked.
Tembe said she had been in contact with Housing and requested that the floors at least be seen to, however she said she had had no further response.
“I was told this was a renovations issue, but it is not. This is a maintenance issue where maintenance of flats is not kept up. We are not asking for the flat to be renovated, just for the floors and vents to be fixed. The vents are a huge problem as it lets in cold air which is affecting the resident’s asthma,” she said.
In response to queries,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.”
While inspecting the flat, Councillor Tembe did a walk around Kenneth Gardens and was shocked by the condition of the grounds.
“I was asked to check that a pipe at of the blocks of flats had been fixed, but the water which has leaked out as well as additional rainfall has resulted in large pools of water collecting on the grounds nearby. I feel this needs intervention from the Health Department,” she said.
She said she would be in contact with Housing regarding maintenance and upkeep of the grounds.
“I have noted issues such as the length of the grass, the condition of the playground equipment and washing lines as well as the amount of rubbish on the property,” she said.
