Muniamma Pather's flat is sinking.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
RESIDENTS of Westcliff Flats are refusing to take ownership of their “dilapidated” homes due to severe neglect and deteriorating conditions.
With ongoing issues such as sewer problems, rat infestations and structural damage, they are calling for urgent repairs before the municipality transfers ownership.
The flats which is home to 700 families, was sectionalised by the city last year.
While some paid the transfer costs and have the title deeds, the majority of the residents claimed that they felt forced into buying flats that were “dilapidated and on the brink of falling apart”.
They said that they were forced to live with ongoing sewer issues, the walls were cracking, the foundation was sinking, and they were battling rat and red ant infestation.
The residents said they would be going out in their numbers to vote in the local government elections, in a bid to improve their current living conditions.
They claimed that the municipality had allocated a budget to repair the flats before the title deeds became available.
Cracks on the walls leads to ant infestation
Image: Yoshini Perumal
At a meeting last week, ward councillor Tony Govender told residents that feedback from the municipality had indicated that the renovations were not possible immediately due to funding restrictions.
Stallan Jankipersad, 32, said he attended the meeting to voice his concerns about the “endless problems” he faced in the flat he shared with nine family members.
He said his father had to take an R8 000 loan to install an awning so that the water did not seep into their home through the cracks in the walls, stairs and foundation when it rained.
“Ever since the flats underwent a renovation by the municipality, the poor workmanship has led to endless problems. The ground has cracked and shifted. The stairs have moved apart, and we have a red ant infestation due to the cracks.
“The ants bite us while we sleep. The flats are dilapidated. The original gutters were removed and replaced with gutters made from cheaper material, which broke and fell off.
“We are sick of living like this. I have always voted, and this time I will vote for change. We are tired of promises ahead of the elections, but afterwards nothing is done. We will now hold to account those who are elected into office,” Jankipersad added.
He said the houses were “collapsing” and he would not want to take ownership of it due to its poor state.
“The municipality wants us to take ownership of the flats, but they are collapsing. During the 2019 floods, when nine people died near the flats in the Westcliff Secondary mudslide, our flats were badly damaged.
“Little was done to secure the flats. We are concerned. Lives have been lost already and now they are playing with our lives. We are borrowing money to secure ourselves, out of fear. The budget needs to be allocated to the flats before more lives are lost or residents are injured,” he said.
Govindamma Kistensamy, 70, said she lived in fear of her home being flooded, and the roof flying off.
Govindamma Kistensamy has to place containers around her house so that the water leaks do not destroy her furniture.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
Now, Kistensamy said she feared an explosion because the roof leaked near the lights.
She said she was unable to afford repairs.
“Whenever it rains, I do not sleep. I pray that my children and I are safe as the water drips loudly into containers that I place where the leaks are. I get a grant of R2,300. I pay R1,500 for rent, and R1,300 for lights and water.
“My daughter helps me with the food. There is barely money each month for us to survive. We cannot afford to repair the place. We need the municipality to repair it before we take over the title deeds. I have always voted, and this time I hope my vote makes a difference, and that I can live and sleep in peace,” she said.
Her daughter, Ronelle Kistensamy, 42, was badly injured when heavy winds blew the asbestos roofing off the flat while she was making her way indoors.
She said the asbestos hit her on her chest, causing a deep laceration.
“The roof was replaced after a month, but now it is leaking. It was not replaced properly. It is shaky, and we live in fear of it flying off again.
“We are tired of poor workmanship. I hope and pray that our votes will count and our voices will be heard after the next local government elections. Otherwise, the time we take to register and stand at the polls will be a waste,” she added.
Muniamma Pather, 70, said she lived alone and was afraid of “dying alone in the heavy rains”.
“I have always voted. Every time I vote, I think there will be change. But nothing happens. I am grateful that we have a councillor who cares about the elderly who live alone. He helps us with food parcels because there is not much money left to buy food after paying for the lights and water which is R1,200, and the rent which is R1,220. I cannot afford repairs.
“He has also kept us updated about the flats, but it is always that there is no money for repairs. I have no geyser. I complained for 10 years, but nobody came to repair it.
“The flat is sinking. I am afraid of dying in the heavy rains. I have been living here since I was a little girl and I am now 70 years old. I want to live in a neat house before I die. But I am forced to live in a house that has cracked walls, water leaks, and with no paint. I have mould on the walls. I pray for change,” Pather said.
Tom Sheik, 65, said he was tired of the ongoing sewer problems.
Stallan Jankipersad shows the cracks on the staircase and the foundation of his flat.
Image: Yoshini Perumal
“When the main pipe is blocked, sewage overflows from our toilets, flooding the flats. We cannot walk into the house when it overflows.
“This has been an ongoing problem for years. We have had to throw away furniture and suffered many losses due to the ongoing sewage problems. Just this week, sewage was overflowing from the toilets. We are forced to tolerate the smell and our health is at risk every time this happens. There has been no permanent solution. We hope that after the next elections, we will see some change,” he said.
Andriette Lucas, 57, said she was frustrated over the illegal dumping which led to a rat infestation in the area.
Lucas, a fisherwoman, said she had five young grandchildren and could not put rat poison in her yard because she feared that they might mistakenly consume it and die.
“We have cried out for help but nothing has been done. The rats are coming out of the drains and into our houses. We had to seal off wherever we could. If we seal off anywhere else, we would not be able to breathe.
“I will vote and I will keep calling for the person elected to address our concerns and issues as a community. We cannot live like this,” she added.