- As an R11 million repair project is underway to fix aging staircases at Ocean View’s affordable housing units, residents say it is too little too late.
- Last year, a budget of R30 million was made available to repair staircases in Lavender Hill, Lotus River and Ocean View.
- On Wednesday 28 February, City officials including Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim visited the area to check the progress.
As an R11 million repair project is underway to fix aging staircases at Ocean View’s affordable housing units, residents say it is too little too late.
Last year, a budget of R30 million was made available to repair staircases in Lavender Hill, Lotus River and Ocean View.
On Wednesday 28 February, City officials including Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim visited the area to check the progress.
According to Pophaim, the City is focusing on critical emergency work due to a huge demand for repairs at its rental units across the metro.
“Public housing is a priority programme for the City and for me, and we are set to really ramp up maintenance and upgrade work over the next several months.”
Since 2018, approximately R200 million has been spent on staircase upgrades and replacement of over 1 300 priority staircases.
“The City is one of the biggest landlords in the country and an estimated 160 000 people currently benefit from the affordable rental public housing units operated by the City.
“There are many challenges in public housing but I am committed to stepping up our efforts to find new ways of addressing the most urgent priorities within the finite budgetary and human resources that we have.”
The City’s Human Settlements Directorate has a total priority investment in public housing maintenance and repairs of more than R1,2 billion over the next three years.
However, for Ocean View residents, the City has ignored aging infrastructure at its rental housing units at the expense of residents.
Last year, Miche Pheiffer (23) visited her sister Tammy Overmeyer (26) at Uiltjie Court when the staircase crumbled under her weight, causing a nasty fall.
“She came to visit me and then she fell through the stairs. A month before the incident we lodged a complaint to say that the staircase was breaking piece by piece.
“I was very upset because I felt it was my fault because she came to visit me, so I blamed myself. Why did they not fix the staircase before the time?” asks Overmeyer.
The fall resulted in a broken ankle and physiotherapy sessions for Pheiffer.
“My sister is still going for physio and she needs another operation soon. The next day, after the incident the City came to fix the staircase.”
Overmeyer is concerned that the wooden railings at the very staircase where the incident occurred are not receiving new metal railings, as other staircases are being repaired.
“Many residents are unhappy with the staircases because they are fixing 19, but 500 staircases need repairs. It is not fair because our staircase, where the incident happened, the rails are still wooden and falling apart… they replaced one staircase.”
She hopes the City will focus on the aging windows as many do not open while others are reportedly broken.
“When it rains, the water comes through our windows and other residents can’t open theirs. That also needs replacing.”
Reagan Rubain, who lives at Freesia Court, says residents deserve better.
“I have been living in Ocean View all my life. For me, these flats come from the apartheid era and are almost as old as Ocean View itself and I always thought we deserved better.
“People fell through the stairs and cracks started appearing and the deterioration and erosion has been showing for years.”
He adds that the new staircases seem firmer and safer.
“In the past, every time the City replaced it, the wood fell over. The new structure looks firm and it looks better too.”
Dorothy Soetwater, a community leader from Lavender Hill, claims that as residents, they’ve asked the City for years to do repairs on stairs, windows and fences.
“We are happy but we hope they will do the windows next. We fought with the City for the staircases,” said Soetwater.
Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock says 100 staircases that are 50 to 60 years old have been identified for priority repairs in Ocean View.
“The City identified the ones that were most at risk and the others will be minor repairs such as loose railings and threads to bring it up to a safe standard.
The new staircases have precast steps and metal railings, not the wooden banisters, so it is very sturdy.”
- Due to the large volume of service requests, it is the City’s priority to attend to the most urgent repairs first. Staircase repairs and replacement are a priority.
- The majority of repair work required at public housing units is due to vandalism.
- If tenants have any safety concerns regarding their units and staircases, they are encouraged to please contact the Human Settlements Directorate’s Call Centre: 021 444 0333
