Help on the way for Scribante?
There seems to be a small inkling of hope as Ward 32 Councillor Marius de Vos and Janet Semple, MPL: DA political head for Boksburg East constituency, paid a visit to Scribante.
After the Advertiser’s visit to Andries Scribante Haven in Cason, recently, we joined an oversight visit by members of the DA to Scribante on February 16.
The concern about the broken lifts, the leaking ceilings, overflowing rubbish skip and uninvolved staff have been reported and although these problems are still making the lives of the elderly residents difficult, they have been noted.
The unfortunate situations are intensifying by the day, however, as problems with geysers and blocked drains are now commonplace at the metro-owned facility for the elderly.
Janet Semple (MPL, DA political head for Boksburg East constituency) and Marius de Vos (ward councillor) were part of the visit.
- Shocked at the conditions
“I was shocked at what I witnessed on arrival at Scribante,” said de Vos.
“Before I could enter the premises, I was flagged down by two frail ladies who graphically explained their painful ordeal with the malfunctioning lifts at Scribante.
“These old people are literally trapped on the top floors of the building!”
The concern for the residents of Scribante stretches far and wide throughout the Boksburg community, from Samaritaan Huis to the Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns.
According to Anns’ president Pam Hull, Scribante needs immediate attention.
Colin Hopkinson, ward committee member representing the aged and disabled, is concerned about why the building has been allowed to get into this state.
An urgent meeting was held by de Vos, Semple, Hull and Hopkinson on the Scribante premises, during the oversight visit.
During the meeting, all the areas of Scribante horrors that need attention were identified.
The Advertiser sat in at the meeting and noted that these representatives are not taking these matters lightly.
“How can we allow an elderly woman to carry her husband up the stairs on her back?” asked Semple.
“The delay in replacing the lifts has its toll on the livelihood of these vulnerable people,” said de Vos.
After the meeting de Vos, Semple, Hull and Hopkins walked through Scribante identifying and prioritising the challenges faced by the elderly residents.
“It was brought to my attention that the emergency medical services struggle to attend to or to remove sick people from the top floor to be able to drive them in an ambulance to hospital,” said de Vos.
Semple added that the DA is most concerned about the plight of elderly residents of Scribante and we will do everything possible to improve their living conditions.
“It is unacceptable that people in poor health have to climb flights of stairs to access their flats as the lifts are not working,” she said.
- Action needs to be taken
It is good to know that the issues are noted, but the main concern is still what action will be taken and when?
“I have recently enquired from the project manager, Pumzile Nyatlo, as to when the lifts will be replaced.
He told me that the tender has been approved and that the city manager has to attach her signature in order to appoint the contractors,” said de Vos.
There is still no specific date as to when the lifts will be replaced, however.
According to Nyatlo, the process of appointing contractors will be concluded before the end of February and the contractor will be on site in the first week of March.
“This clear lack of will to replace the lifts is totally unacceptable,” de Vos said.
“Issues of bad treatment and lack of maintenance are at the order of the day at Andries Scribante. I will convene a meeting with officials of the housing department to address all matters in due course.
“We need to show our senior citizens the respect they deserve and make their lives more comfortable in whatever way we can.”
On February 21, de Vos and Hopkinson held a meeting with some of the residents and together they resolved to elect a residents’ committee which can log complaints to Hopkinson, who will then communicate these to de Vos.
“I will not rest until I see the lifts replaced,” said de Vos.
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