Elderly’s dignity restored
The houses at the Tweedy Park complex also received new solar geysers where needed and repairs were done on existing ones.
The passing of the adjustment budget under the new multi-party administration of Ekurhuleni has brought relief to elderly residents of Brakpan, especially those at the Tweedy Park Old Age Home.
Since the passing of the budget, the human settlements department in Brakpan has attended to over approximately 15 faulty geysers in the old age complex and have, where needed, replaced them fully.
According to Brandon Pretorius, DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, by the end of this week, there will be no faulty geysers at Tweedy Park, which will be the first time in years.
“Rina Engelbrecht was without hot water in her flat for 14 months and under the new Ekurhuleni administration, it seems like these issues faced by our elderly are a thing of the past,” he said.
ALSO READ: Covid-19 relief grants now at every Shoprite, Checkers and Usave till
“The houses at the Tweedy Park complex also received new solar geysers where needed and repairs were done on existing ones to ensure they are all working and in turn assist our elderly with cost-saving.
“The department has also started attending to the long outstanding issue of filling vacant premises within the Tweedy Park complex.
“I am ecstatic to say that these vacant premises are being filled daily and the process is being monitored closely to ensure that the filling of these flats and houses are done according to the waiting list.
“Ben van der Merwe, one of the new residents of Tweedy Park, waited years for this day and was grateful for the opportunity given to him and his wife.”
Pretorius told the Herald he is happy the human settlements department within Brakpan has finally fulfilled its mandate after continued pressure.
“It was clear that there was not only a lack of political will to assist the elderly and dependent residents of Brakpan but also a lack of humanity from the Ekurhuleni human settlements department under the previous administration,” he said.
“Besides ongoing maintenance issues at the municipal-owned buildings and their surrounds, it has previously taken the department years to attend to faulty geysers and other general maintenance issues at Tweedy Park Old Age Home and I am glad to say that this has now come to an end.
“As the Democratic Alliance in Brakpan and Ekurhuleni, we will continue to apply all forces to ensure that the municipality does as it is obliged to do by law.
“I want to thank the administration of the day for their commitment to fulfilling their mandate and in return ensuring that our elderly residents’ dignity is restored.”
