No maintenance done at Presidentia

The Advertiser recently visited the complex with DA councillor Dean Stone, where the Petra Verwey (whom the residents look upon as the caretaker) pointed out these maintenance problems.

Verwey says her hands are tied as the metro does not react to any of her requests. Since February Verwey has been reporting several problems to the metro’s housing department in Springs, but to no avail.

The son of an 85-year-old resident, Louis Blignaut, says his mother, one of the oldest residents at Presidentia and who has been there for 15 years, has been without water since January.

“Therefore we fetch her every second day so that she can at least enjoy a hot bath.”

Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe, says the energy department has been made aware of the problem and the matter was referred to the contractors who installed the solar geysers in December.

“The said department was in the process of finalising the tender for the maintenance of the geysers, but the matter has been resolved and all the geysers were fixed,” he adds.

But Verwey says more than one person is without warm water and nothing has been done to solve the problem.

Stone says when Verwey asked him to visit the premises he was shocked to see how poorly the buildings have been maintained.

“Roofs are rusted and leaking onto the ceilings, gutters are blocked and rusted, not to mention the rusted glass front doors to each house,” adds Stone.

Upon investigation the Addie found some of the steel cupboards in the different homes are particularly rusted and doors cannot close properly.

The metro spokesman says, with regard to any external painting, refurbishment of gutters, roofs, ceilings, sidewalks, steel frames, door hinges, the department has a maintenance plan in place, and Presidentia is about to benefit from that plan.

He adds the aforementioned has been submitted on the wish list for capital projects, however, it has been noted that roof leaks are attended to as and when reported.

In addition, the metro claims tenants are responsible for the wear and tear, like replacement of tap washers, broken windows and replacing putty.

The cement in front of the different units is cracked. One of the residents recently broke her leg when she fell into one of these holes.

“She was hospitalised and I blame the metro as I have been asking for the cement to be fixed since 2005,” adds Verwey.

This, she adds, also makes it difficult for people in wheelchairs.

Another incident that raised Stone’s eyebrows is the rainwater disposal systems that were fitted with chicken wire and nailed to the cement to prevent stray cats from entering the premises.

“The contractors’ invoice was R7 000 for this job,” says Stone, “it is ridiculous as the job is not even worth R1 000.”

Gadebe says the quotation of R7 000 is unknown to the metro.Various jobs have been given to contractors who charged enormous amounts for jobs done that were not even done by the contractors, but by residents themselves.

“One of the residents fixed his own lock on his back door and the contractor asked him to sign off the invoice, charging the metro over R1 000 for the job,” says Verwey.

Families of residents are concerned for their safety as they get onto ladders and climb into trees to cut down branches that the metro was asked to cut.

Gadebe says the works order for the cutting of trees has been processed and the human settlements department is awaiting the official order from stores. Stone is unhappy about the fact that the drain system at various units does not function properly as well as some of the electrical plugs and switches which are not working at all.

“In one such house a man has been without electricity, except for the light in the lounge, since March 4,” says Verwey.

Dennis Doyle had to take his frozen food to someone to keep in their refrigerator as all the wall plugs in his house are out of order.

He says he did report it to the caretaker and she reported the matter to the metro immediately, but nothing has come of it yet.

But according to the metro there is no caretaker, however, it does have a residents committee which was elected by the residents of the complex, who assist voluntarily.

According to Stone, it is unacceptable as no senior citizen should live under these circumstances.

He wants to know why Presidentia is in its current state and why the metro says there is no money for maintenance?

Gadebe says this claim is unfounded and if only proof can be provided on the allegation.

“The department, during the course of each financial year, identifies funding to effect major maintenance in the various council-owned complexes,” he adds, “However, during each financial year different complexes are identified as it is not possible to attend to all the complexes at once.”

According to the current tenants’ lease agreement signed with the human settlements department, they are responsible for the painting of their unit.

“The external structure of the complex is facebrick and does not require painting, but the inside of the units are painted as and when the units become vacant,” says Gadebe.

He concludes all complaints reported are attended to after receipt of an official order from the metro’s stores department, however, emergencies and life-threatening complaints are dealt with immediately.