Broken elevator restricts accessibility at council meetings for councillor

Charles Brough, a disabled Freedom Front Plus councillor, has been struggling to appear at council meetings in the Rand West Local Municipality as the result of a broken elevator.

Brough was involved in a serious vehicle crash 38 years ago which left him wheelchair-bound. According to Brough, the elevator he would normally use has been out of order for about a year.

His disability forces Brough to ask his fellow councillors for assistance such as carrying him to the first floor so that he can attend council or committee meetings. It takes the four assisting people nearly 10 minutes to carry him up the stairs. For the past year that the elevator has been unavailable, Brough could not attend three council meetings and five Public Participation Committee meetings. These meetings were all held in the Speaker’s Office on the first floor and Brough is a portfolio member of the committee.

Not being able to attend these meetings, the FF Plus could not deliver any substantial comments regarding the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), budget input and many more serious matters.

If Brough can attend meetings, he has to be carried down the stairs as well.

Amanda de Lange, Member of the Provincial Legislature commented, “After meetings are adjourned, councillors usually depart quickly and then Brough and his helpers are left struggling to get down the stairs on their own. Carrying him up and down the stairs could seriously injure him and others.”

Brough further states that it is restricting his work as a councillor that he was elected for in the community.

“No further attempts have been made to address the issue,” he stated.

De Lange also stated that the speaker was informed of the situation earlier this year and undertook in writing in late July to see to it that the elevator is repaired. She further described the situation as unacceptable.

“The FF Plus also informed the Gauteng MEC for Social Development as well as the Department of Labour.”

The Herald was also informed that the FF Plus referred to the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) which was approved by cabinet on 9 December 2015. The White Paper is intended to develop transformation and to include people with disabilities.

“Any institution needs to ensure that they accommodate any disability which results in a person not being able to do the job they are assigned for,” Brough said.

Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa said they are looking into the matter.

“As of right now, our elevator is out of service. Unfortunately, the elevator broke down due to a technical malfunction, however we are actively working on getting the issue resolved as soon as possible.”