2011-03-31: To maintain old age homes is well underway

THE City of Johannesburg is busy with a comprehensive programme to maintain old age homes and retirement villages throughout the City and to fix facilities that need repair.

"Money for this purpose has been allocated in the recent Adjustment Budget of the City and there are teams from Johannesburg’s Department of Housing, City Power and Joburg Water moving from home to home to collating information and working on quotations to enable them start with maintenance work," says Walter Melato the Acting Executive Director responsible for Housing in the City of Johannesburg.

The city does not run or manage any old age home or retirement village. This is the responsibility of owners or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The City, however, is the owner of the properties on which some 30 old age homes are built and act as the "landlord" for the purpose of maintenance.

Through the years some of these facilities have fallen into a state of disrepair and in many cases owners or managers failed to inform the City timeously about broken fixtures that are in need of repair.

"This will now be corrected because we are carrying out pro-active inspections of these properties and attend to repair work that may have been delayed by the procurement process and subsequent consolidation of quotes for the starting with repairs after adjustment of the budget in February this year," says Mr Melato

Officials from Joburg Water will look at the state of water infrastructure, City Power will inspect the safety of electrical fixtures and housing department evaluate the structures and do repair works where necessary.

"We call on owners and residents of the old age homes to also assist this process by informing the City proactively about any repairs that need to be carried out," says Melato.

"Budgets are available and there is no need for any council-managed facility to fall in a state of disrepair".

The city is also responsible for the provision of a wide range of services that look after the needs of the elderly. Many senior citizens qualify for the Expanded Social Package that supports indigent households through the provision of free basic water and electricity.

Through the Vulnerable Household Support Programme, the City provides support in the form of nutrition, home-based care training, access to education and security of tenure.

Issued by:
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za​