Retirement village residents outraged over drug activity

Retirement communities are meant to satisfy the needs of senior citizens and their families, with the goal of making retirement the best years of their lives.

For the residents of Donovan McDonald Retirement Village, peace and tranquility remain a mystery as drug addicts continue to terrorise them.

One resident provided pictures of what is alleged to be a drug den within the old age home, just two doors away from him.

“What goes on in that house is driving us mad, there is no one to help us remove these people as it has become a place for drug addicts. They steal all the manhole covers which come in a variety of sizes, making it very difficult for old people to walk at night,” said an angry resident.

According to Anand Padayachee who is one of the residents at the home, the Department of Housing knows about the problem but does nothing about as it has been two years now.

Some of the residents have purchased two globes that cost around R600 with their own money to light up the car park so that they can see their cars at night as their car batteries and sound systems are stolen regularly.

The residents also allege that there are more than 12 children living at the facility that have moved in after their parents have passed away.

“They are all young people with their own children, three babies were born at the old age home and that is not supposed to be happening, clearly there are young people who are occupying units illegally,” said one resident known to the Record.

Some of the residents told the Record that they do not feel safe and feel like they have been neglected, as there is no medical help available at the facility.

They allege that the gates are not always locked and that people can just walk in and out as they please.

“It is difficult to live peacefully here because of the youngsters residing on the premises. I can tell you that there’s approximately six to eight children who stay here and go to school from here,” said another unhappy resident.

Also read: Licit drug abuse – overshadowing the illegal drug trade

Residents have recently taken matter in their hands and closed some of the known drug dens in the facility by welding all the doors closed.

A group comprising of residents started patrolling the premises at night but that did not last long as they their efforts were halted by an intimidating rumour that forced them to withdraw.

The Record approached City of Joburg Human Settlements Department’s Deputy Director of Communications, Neo Goba to comment on the allegations and despondency from the elderly residents.

Also read: One arrested after drug lab discovery in Florida

According to Goba, the department is aware of some drug peddling and use as well as the related complaints received from the residents in the past year.

Goba said they are aware of the fact that criminals jump over the back boundary wall with barbed wire and make their way in, the theft of manhole covers and where vandalism of infrastructure has taken place has been reported to the officials of the department.

“The city with the assistance of Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) removed the alleged drug peddlers and upon removal, welded the unit that to prevent them from re-invading it for illegal activities.

“The peddlers were being housed by one of the residents that since passed away, when the unit was welded in, the department’s officials with JMPD found needles and other items suspected to be used for drug use, the issue has been reported to the police,” said Goba.

When asked by the Record of any future plans for the residents to be assisted, Goba responded by saying that there is a plan in place, the removal of the drug peddlers was the initial phase of the plan.

Goba said that Human Settlements official together with JMPD and the security meet on regular basis for updates.

“There are some residents who live with family members that are illegal, a legal process is underway to evict them, notices have been served to the affected residents. Donovan McDonald Retirement Village is a rental facility for senior citizens, this is not a frail care facility, as and when residents are assessed to be requiring frail care, they get transferred to frail care facilities in consultation with their families,” said Goba.

Questions were sent to Florida Police Station Commander, Colonel Amos Tsotetsi and Ward 70 Councillor Caleb Finn but at the time of publishing there was still no response from them.