The Herald has been reporting on the predicament of the mostly elderly residents over the past few weeks, but there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
Residents on the higher floors of the eight-story building have become prisoners in their own flats.
The Herald recently spoke to some residents on the top floor of the building.
Desperation and despair are good words to describe the general feeling. Some of the people have not left their flats in weeks.
Ann Goss (83), who has a heart condition, has been living in her flat for the past five years.
“I am happy here, but we need the elevators to be in a working condition,” she said.
“There is no way I can get up and down all those stairs.
“My daughter has to bring groceries and necessities to me, but she is 62 years of age and it is also a battle for her.”
Kobus Henshaw (68) has a bad knee and also suffers from a heart condition.
“I can get down the stairs, but to get back to the eighth floor is a major challenge,” he said.
The eight-story building has two elevators to carry the residents of the 112 flats up and down.
The service elevator has not been operational since before 2011 and the second elevator has been out of order for many weeks now.
Two weeks ago paramedics were forced to carry a 91-year-old resident from the eighth floor, after she fell ill.
“It was not very nice to see and not very dignifying for that person,” said one of the residents.
Previously, the body of a resident who had passed away had to be carried from the building in a blanket, as the paramedics could not reach the flat with a stretcher, because the service lift was not operational.
Not only are residents on the top floors unable to collect their monthly pensions, but they have been unable to refill necessary prescriptions, visit the doctor or do shopping.
Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro, previously told the Herald that the the lift situation at Tweedy Park is regretted and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is doing its utmost to expedite normality.
“A number of the lifts in the metro have exceeded their lifespans and are on the verge of being replaced,” he explained.
“All avenues are being explored to address all the challenges and problems surrounding the lifts.”
Also read:
Broken lift leaves elderly stranded
Spirits lifted as one elevator is repaired
SAPS wants to hear from the elderly
