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Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Councillor Mlungisi Mabaso, has prioritised the elderly in his 100 days in office since the Government of Local Unity took over the administration in December 2019.

As testament to his committed, MMC Mabaso visited the Moffat View Old Age rental facility to examine progress on the R1.2 million refurbishment of the facility. The department had received numerous complaints pertaining the state of this facility ranging from leaking roofs, damaged stoves to a dilapidating drainage system. Upon completion of the project, an extra 14 newly revamped units will become available for new tenants to address the backlog in our old age rentals waiting list.

The Housing department has chosen five (5) other old age homes as a pilot project that will include the provision of social services, occupancy audit and security upgrades. The facilities earmarked for this pilot project are De Wetshof, Donovan McDonald, Anne Burger, Reuven and Vrededorp.

As part of the pilot, social workers have been deployed to profile the residents who have advanced in age in these facilities, determining their fragility status. This will enable the department to recommend and transfer the frail to the Provincial Department of Social Development as it is the department that is tasked with frail care. The profiling of the elderly will also include an occupancy audit to ensure that illegal occupants are evicted as these facilities are for the exclusive use of the elderly.

A security assessment will also be conducted to determine the security requirements to ensure the elderly are safe in their homes. The Joburg Metro Police Department has been engaged to facilitate this assessment and it is scheduled for conclusion before the end of this financial year.

It is also worth reporting that within the MMC’s 100 days in office, the problematic elevators issue at the Donovan McDonald was resolved after new elevators were delivered in December.       

Issued by The City of Johannesburg