Once known for its tranquil gardens and offering of a happy, assisted life in retirement, Klein Helderkruin (KH) is now a cesspool of problems.
This according to allegations recently made by DA candidate councillor, Sonja Meyer. She claimed, among other things, that illegal tenants have moved in and the Roodepoort Care of the Aged (RCA) is crooked, mismanaging the centre and offering no support to the elderly they’re contracted to assist.
“This place is supposed to offer assisted living to their tenants who cannot afford to live in such a retirement village otherwise; instead, residents’ children and grandchildren have moved in,” Meyer told the Record.
She went on to say up to 11 people live in a bachelor’s flat on the premises. Many of the elderly residents have also allowed their boyfriends or girlfriends to move into their bachelor’s flats, against centre policy, she said. Allegedly a panel beating business is run from within the village, the ‘mechanic’ setting up shop in anyone’s parking bay without excuse or apology.
“This man has also threatened the elderly who challenge him about his illegal business; he said nobody will know how it came that they fell down the stairs,” Meyer said.
Another resident is running a laundry service from her unit, she said.
The Record requested comment on these and other claims from, among others, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Housing in Region C, the Department of Human Settlements, the regional director of Region C (Mlamleli Belot), a CoJ communications specialist and both councillors Carl Mann and Suzanne Clarke. A fair response period has not yet lapsed.
RCA has no business at KH
According to Meyer, the RCA was contracted to take over the management of services at KH without proper procedure being followed. No tender process was followed but despite the fact, RCA has held the contract for the past nine years, she said. She questions how an NPO that offers no frail care or other medical support can be put in charge of an institution for the elderly.
She further alleges a devil-may-care attitude from the RCA representatives at KH and complains about the general lack of security and bad financial management. She personally paid witness to registration books that were last updated with incoming donations in 2014, she said.
“It can’t be that the last donation made to the RCA was in 2014, how are they surviving?” she asked.
Finally, she insists fundraising is a last thought on the board’s minds. The organisation is a beneficiary of the Department of Social Development and the National Lottery, but it is unclear to her how the money is spent.
RCA manager Andy Harris, upon request for comment, refuted all claims, saying the organisation has 35 years of expertise in their field and has no obligation to council, being simply a philanthropic effort for the elderly. He stated they only have one representative at KH, Gabby Richardson, and their only obligation to or agreement with council is a lease agreement by which they pay rent for the use of offices and the hall at Tornado Park Old Age Home.
“There is such a lot of in-fighting at KH between people with nothing better to do than cause drama,” Harris said.
“To date, we’ve been able to disprove everything they’ve thrown at RCA.
“These people are nit-picking the smaller issues in an effort to get us in trouble.”
In terms of the allegedly mismanaged finances at KH and neglected donations register, Harris said only the donations are their responsibility and he’s willing to provide evidence to the contrary. According to him, a donation register is held at each of their beneficiaries (being the different old age homes) and is reconciled monthly during a financial meeting. Harris acknowledged claims that illegal tenants occupy KH but did not comment thereon.
Resident confirms maintenance issues, illegal tenants
A resident of Aster Court in Klein Helderkruin this afternoon (Tuesday 10 May) confirmed the state of maintenance and repairs at KH. She’s requested repairs on her unit’s geyser’s regulator more than a week ago, while her 80-something year old neighbour has been left without hot water all week, as her geyser is faulty. She also said a geyser burst in one of the other buildings on the premises and this has not been tended to in three weeks.
She also confirmed illegal tenants continue to move into KH.
“I personally know of a husband and wife who moved in with the granny recently because they lost their jobs,” she said.
The Record is following up on maintenance complaints with CoJ.
Similar media reports in 2014
In February 2014, after acting to get illegal occupants and their contravening ‘landlords’ evicted, councillor for Ward 83, Suzanne Clarke was accused of using bully tactics. At the time, 53-year Koos Wolmarans was caught illegally sharing his 89-year-old mother’s unit. He allegedly threatened residents after they condemned his behaviour. Clarke visited the premises with JMPD and Roodepoort Police officials and invited a Department of Housing official along in order to evict his mother, who was contravening her living arrangements with the council. Her conduct infuriated some, who then requested an investigation be instated. The council’s ethics committee formed a sub-committee who investigated her, and by August 2014 she was acquitted of allegations of misconduct. At the time the ethics committee recommended the Department of Housing investigate matters to ensure old age homes are not illegally occupied.
Alan Fuchs, then-chief whip of the DA’s Johannesburg Caucus, was quoted at the time saying, “The bottom line is that according to the rules these people were not allowed to stay there; the Department of Housing was aware of it but did nothing.”
More to follow.
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