Maintenance woes plague Scottsville council homes
Broken roofs, ceilings, windows and plumbing are just some of problems plaguing council housing in Scottsville’s Peerless Park, say tenants.
Ward councillor Brenda Hansen says she tabled an urgent sub-council motion in September last year calling for repairs and an investigation of living conditions at the 62 units.
Responding to the motion at the time, City public housing official said they would start a six-month investigation starting in October and schedule repairs for the 2023/24 financial year.
Asked for an update on this, the City said it “continues to determine where urgent repair work to its rental stock is needed and is carrying out essential maintenance and upgrades on an ongoing basis. The upgrades include repairs to leaking roofs, replacement of broken windows and other general maintenance repairs”.
It acknowledged the matter was urgent due to health and safety reasons and appealed to the residents to be patient as it prioritised the most urgent cases.
When Northern News visited the community on Monday, local activist Carol Gordon, of Orchard Street, said unemployment was rife in the area, which was also plagued by drugs and gangsterism.
"Unemployment is at the top of the list here, and people cannot pay the rent. I am also unemployed, how can we pay if we are unemployed? The crime is the highest. As a result, police escort the ambulances here.“
Frederick Koopman, of Dahlia Street, said he couldn’t pay his rent as he was unemployed. He pointed out broken pipes, taps and windows in his home, saying maintenance had last been done about six years ago.
Yolanda Jacobs stays in Dahlia Street with her four children. Her home’s ceiling is damaged, the front door doesn’t close properly and the geyser leaks, but she said the City had ignored her complaints even though she paid her monthly R610 rent.
Edward Jonkers, 74, who stays with his wife and two children in Aandblom Street, said he had to put out buckets whenever it rained because of the holes in the roof.
“When it is raining, it rains in and we need to put out big buckets. We pay the rent of R700. It has been like this for long time.”
The City told Northern News it offered indigent relief to tenants who were unable to pay rents, which vary from R350 to R1200 depending on the unit’s size and tenant’s means.
Ms Hansen said she was happy that her motion was now being addressed by the City.
