Seniors given a raw deal
A Pioneer Park resident who wants to remain anonymous asked the COURIER to visit them and take a look at their yard.
ELDERLY people in some of the old age homes in the South feel neglected and abandoned by the authorities, and have numerous concerns regarding their living conditions.
Reuven Old Age Home in West Turffontein, Annie Burger in Crown Gardens, and Pioneer Park Old Age Home in Glenesk are among the places where senior citizens feel deserted.
Among other things they complained about are water leakages, grown grass, safety and their welfare.
One resident at Pioneer Park (who wants to remain anonymous) asked the COURIER to visit them and have a look at their yard. “Please have a look at our garden at this place. The mosquitoes are killing us. The grass is knee-deep and the weeds are longer than the residents. It is disgusting. Why must we live like this?” she wanted to know. “Is it because we are pensioners?”
Reuven and Annie Burger have the same problem of long grass. Antonio Joao from Annie Burger has two concerns, namely water wastage and safety.
“Last year my blind friend and I were robbed at gunpoint inside Reuven after we withdrew a substantial amount of money. We were followed from the bank. They assaulted us and they took my firearm. In front of my house there is a water leakage which has been there for years,” Antonio added. “What can we do as elderly?”
Aware of conditions
Ward 124 Clr Mnyameni Mongameli said he has raised all these issues with the Housing Department. “I’m fully aware about the poor, unhealthy conditions at Reuven Old Age Home, and all the bad conditions that our senior citizens are been ill-treated by the DA-EFF unholy marriage government.
“I have raised all these issues with housing since from last year,” Mongameli said. “The taps are leaking, basins, toilet systems are not working, geysers are not working and windows are broken. The grass is so long you won’t even be able to see a cow in that grass. They are failing our people, and now the senior citizens must hire someone to cut the grass for them, even though they are paying each and every month.
“You ask yourself what they are paying for, because they don’t get the services,” Mongameli added. “The doctor only comes once a month and that is not enough, as we are losing our parents there.
“The only thing that the City of Johannesburg knows under rented mayor Mashaba is to be directly involved in properties. I think he must resign as a mayor and be an MMC for housing. I have reported all these issues, but I guess because I’m the ANC councillor they are sabotaging me.”
The COURIER will continue to engage all the authorities involved in this matter for more comment and clarity.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
