Metro responds to concerns at Andries Scribante Haven

The City of Ekurhuleni has responded to concerns about the issues faced at the metro-owned Andries Scribante Haven

Lifts

Ekurhuleni’s divisional head of communication Nhlanhla Cebekhulu said lifts will be arriving mid-September.

After a number of years, the centre’s elderly residents are still forced to use the stairs to get to and from their flats. Some of them have to struggle up three flights of stairs with wheelchairs, walkers and shopping bags and attempt not to hurt themselves in the process.

Cebekhulu said the City notes that the delay in the delivery of materials was due to Covid-19 lockdown.

“Once site work commences the teams will be added onsite to circumvent the delay,” he said.
He highlighted with the advent of lockdown, shipping took longer than anticipated.

“The lifts were expected by end of July 2020 and thus delivery dates had to be pushed back to mid-September 2020,” he said.

Faulty solar geysers

Several senior citizens from Andries Scribante Haven in Cason Road said they have been struggling for months without hot water in their apartments.

Cebekhulu said the issues will be attended to in the beginning of October due to a delivery period of four weeks.

Despite ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos’ and residents’ claiming that they reported the faulty geysers on numerous occasions, Cebekhulu said the metro is not aware of the issue regarding solar geysers.

“The issue was not reported to the City,” he said.
However, the matter will be attended to by the respective department.

“Solar geysers are normally affected by cold winter weather and the City didn’t have the service providers to fix and maintain those geysers but now the evaluation process is done and soon the service providers will be receiving their appointment letters and address all the issues concerning solar geysers.”

Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and visiting

The Advertiser recently received a complaint about a lack of PPE at Andries Scribante Haven since the beginning of the lockdown.

The spokesperson emphasized their staff based at Andries Scribante were not working since the beginning of lockdown, however, PPE (face masks and sanitisers) are available.

“Once the directives have been given to employees to resume work, PPE will be catered for or provided. The PPE are only provided to council employees but the facility is always disinfected as and when the need arises.”

He highlighted visitors are allowed to visit their loved ones during the current lockdown restrictions.

“Regulations of wearing mask still exist. All visitors must wear mask upon entry. Tenants and visitors are responsible to provide themselves with mask and sanitisers.

“The access control at Andries Scribante is controlled by the appointed security company. At the entrance were visitors sign in in the visitors register when paying a visit to tenants. Access control is part of OHS Act 85 of 1993 and it regularly and visitors should sign in the register upon entering the premises, “Cebekhulu explained.

Gardening

De Vos recently told the Advertiser that residents are taking it upon themselves to maintain the garden.

Cebekhulu said the metro is not aware of such a development.

He said the Human Settlements Department is responsible for maintenance and gardening of the complex.

“It should be noted that Real Estate Department is in the process of appointing a contractor who will service the area.”

Also Read : Andries Scribante Haven lifts expected to arrive soon

Also Read: Residents of Andries Scribante Haven without hot water