Pensioner fears house collapsing on him
ALEXANDRA - A pensioner's hope for the city council's department of housing to rescue him from his house collapsing around him has been dashed.
This after the department’s Penual Maduna informed pensioner, Stanley Mbera (72) that the house was self-built and therefore not the government’s responsibility. According to DA proportional representative, councillor Shadrack Mkhonto who is assisting the pensioner, Maduna suggested that the pensioner consult the Department of Social Development for assistance.
Mbera has been residing in what resembles a hovel, but which he calls home on 3rd Avenue since 1970. In the late 80s, his four children had grown up and left with his wife for their KwaZulu-Natal rural home, leaving him alone.
The room, which is now full of his possessions, barely has space for him to sleep. Worse still, Mbera said cracks in the walls have widened over the years and it seems unlikely the room will not withstand heavy wind and rain. “I registered for council housing in 1986, 1997, 2006 and last year, but to no avail,” he said.
Mbera said despite ill health limiting his movements, his unbearable living conditions forced him to approach a local radio station which advised him to approach the city council and the ward councillor.
“But at my age and with my health challenges, I have no energy to keep trekking after people who should be assisting in particular, the elderly, to live better.”
He said some people had suggested that because the ward was DA run, his applications for housing may be sidelined. In response to this, Mkhonto said perceptions of unfair and preferential treatment in service delivery sometimes occurred when people felt their requests for assistance, lodged through a formal process, seemed not to be attended to.
“If this is the case, then it’s unfortunate, as council officials and also councillors, should be apolitical and treat everyone equally when attending to their needs as it is a Constitutional mandate,” said Mkhonto.
He said special houses had been built and allocated to pensioners in Ext 9 and 10, and wondered how Mbera had not been prioritised.
With the onset of the rainy season, Mbera may be a casualty of the housing debacle in Alex if he doesn’t get assistance.
Details: Councillor Shadrack Mkhonto 079 444 1464.
