Donovan McDonald drama after assault on elderly

A second assault that is being investigated at Donovan McDonald Old Age Home highlights the mismanagement and risky security at the premises.

After he was assaulted and robbed in his flat, Erasmus Greyling (71) spoke out about the issues at Donovan McDonald Old Age Home.

On 21 September Greyling opened his door after someone knocked, not expecting the ensuing struggle, being tied up and robbed. Two suspects used the vacuum cleaner’s cord to tie him up after which he was beaten. They continued to ransack his apartment, stealing over R1 000 worth of groceries and making off with an undisclosed amount of cash and two cellphones.

According to Florida Police spokesperson, Captain Lydia Mtila-Dikolomela, a case of housebreaking and robbery has been opened and an investigation was launched.

A second assault was reported to the investigating officer. No arrests have been made to date regarding the assault on Greyling.

Mtila-Dikolomela says the two suspects are still at large, and their identity is unknown.

“We urge anyone with information related to the incident to come forward,” she says.

The assault and robbery, however, drew much-needed attention to the mismanagement at the home and the lack of proper security.

According to concerned residents more than 300 people – including adults, young adults and children – live in bachelor flats or small apartments meant to house the elderly.

“Children leave school in the afternoon and come home to Donovan McDonald Old Age Home, how is that possible?” complained a resident who asked to stay anonymous out of fear of victimisation.

“There are people here that owe R30 000 to R40 000 in rent, never having paid a cent of the meager R230 rent a month,” says the resident.

“Our stoves don’t work and management doesn’t provide for us – the washing machines also are out of order.”

The resident has started collecting facts to send to Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau. The resident previously served on the residents’ committee and says that she did her best to draw attention to the mismanagement with local authorities as well as DA councillor Dave Dewes.

“Dewes comes here and talks absolute rubbish, and our residents believe him,” she says.

“Our current committee sweeps these issues under the carpet, but we can not live like this any longer.

“I want all the elderly perople to sit on the sidewalk with their wheelchairs, crutches and placards to show Florida how we are suffering.”

The former committee member and other residents also shared their grievances over illegal cigarettes and drugs being sold on the premises.

Security on the premises seems an empty promise – the record didn’t have to identify its reasons for visiting or sign in during its initial visit.

Getting nowhere with councillor owing to disunity

Residents are frustrated with futile attempts to have Dewes listen to and escalate their issues as the area’s councillor.

“Whenever he is here the home becomes grounds for his campaigning. He has refused to speak to me before and refused to hear me out,” says the ex-committee member.

Dewes expressed his own frustration with the management at Donovan McDonald Old Age Home and the municipality’s lack of action.

“I have been trying to address the same issues since 2006, the incompetent Region C Housing Department has failed to address the recurring problems,” says Dewes.

“Things as simple as giving a reference number to a resident when he reports a problem have failed in its implementation,” he says. He adds that residents also have not been able to come together and support their democratically elected residence committee to assist him in creating effective communication channels and instead create disunity, bickering among themselves and pointing fingers.