These old age homes are in dire condition, say residents.
Image: Trudi-lee Low-Wang
Retirement home residents of Mary Asher, Saint Gabriel's and Saint Michael's Homes in Sydenham, KwaZulu-Natal are furious at the state of the properties.
Some residents are on the verge of eviction as the three properties are fraught with claims of unpaid fees dating back to 2015, mismanagement of funds, an 'illegitimate board' running them and more.
The homes are owned by the Durban Council of South African Women, but the land is owned by the eThekwini Municipality.
A task team was created to attempt to remedy these issues and they claim that it has been an uphill battle all these years while the elderly residents suffering.
The team consists of Trudi-lee Low-Shang, Easlyn Young, Nicky Lawler and Carl Lortan.
The Ward 31 councillor Remona Mackenzie has also become involved in the matter, vowing that she will do everything in her power to ensure that the residents do not get evicted.
In a meeting with the residents, the task team opened up about the three women who are running the homes.
"Two are ineffective, they are never there, and the other person is dictating commands from behind the scenes. She never comes to the home," said Low-Shang.
Conditions of the old age home.
Image: Trudi-lee Low-Shang
She added that there is massive mismanagement of donor funding, rental income and more.
"Rent is being bypassed the banking account and it would appear as if there is self-gain," Low-Shang said.
Mackenzie said the task team was there because they love and care for the residents.
"Ever since we have been coming to these meetings and addressing you, we have been trying to ensure that we make things alright... These homes are disorganised. What we are doing here is for everyone's benefit," Mackenzie said.
This matter has been escalated to the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS).
"We have exposed the malpractices of these homes," Low-Shang said.
"But trying to get anybody to secure a final decision for us as the task team to take over the running of these homes and put practices in place has been an absolute nightmare."
IOL reached out to the Department of Social Development but, a spokesperson declined to comment.
Low-Shang said the residents have been given rental increases without being informed what the price hikes are for. She claims that the rent increases were implemented without Annual General Meeting (AGM).
"How do we justify a rent increase without an AGM? How do we justify rent increases when there haven't been audited financially since 2015? None of this is justified... The current board needs to be removed. We are trying to remove them through a hostile takeover."
This board consists of four people whom the task team says are unratified.
Residents have also accused another woman of being self-appointed and having bullying tendencies towards them and even being racist.
A woman who stays at Saint Michael's claims she was forced by this woman into signing a document saying that she would pay the increased rent.
"I felt threatened by her because she asked me to return the form. I lied and said I don't know where it is. She said she will give me another to sign," she said.
"When I was applying to get in, she told me that I must put on lipstick and take a photo... I was angry. She called me to apologise because someone who works with her told her that what she did was wrong."
There is also discontent and pointing of fingers among the residents among the residents.
One resident said that she felt like she was being punished for the actions of previous members who have not paid their rent.
"I don't understand being against the rent increase. This rent has not been increased for years and now you are punishing the new people that are in-coming," she said.
She added that there are some residents who had not paid for up to eight months and even a year.
Low-Shang said the task team is facing an uphill battle and they are considering staging a protest.
"We want to see and speak to the KZN Department of Social Development, MEC Mbali Shinga. We are being blocked from accessing her. She needs to be advised of this situation. We want her to come and see what is going on," she said.
IOL