Most of the Springs old age homes’ buildings are not fire safe.
The answers to the councillor’s questions revealed that of only 23 of 89 old age homes in Ekurhuleni are compliant with fire safety requirements and the metro’s by-laws.
Ekurhuleni has appointed a task team after devastating fires raged through the Struisbult Care Centre in 2011 and the Pieter Wessels Old Age Home in Donnotar during 2012.
This task team, consisting of the three station managers from each of the metro’s regions, established a database of all old age homes and frail care centres in Ekurhuleni to make sure that these premises complied with fire safety requirements and the metro’s by-laws.
The team investigated both private and council owned institutions.
Of the 89 old age homes 27 are in the process to upgrade and install the necessary safety equipment, 28 did not comply at all, four closed down and seven classified for other use.
All the Springs and Kwatshaduza old age homes the task team investigated were all in the process of upgrade.
In Springs the Rus n Bietjie Old Age Home, as well as Vita Nova, Springs retirement Village and Esda Old Age Home, as well as Zanele Mbeki Frail Care Centre in Donnotar all had notices served to them for not being compliant.
The Old Age Home of Tsakane, as well as the Davd Bopapa Centre and the Emmaus Community Centre in Duduza also had notices issued because of non-compliance.
During the the task team’s inspections at the 89 the institutions, they found most of the old age homes required maintenance and repairs.
The main reasons for non-compliance to the relevant fire safety requirements are insufficient funds and budgetary constraints.
