Elders’ houses falling apart Rodney Pienaar. Thursday, July 17, 2014 - 08:45 News Elders living in Khorixas are complaining their houses are falling apart, some to the extent that wires are the only option to keep them together. After a meeting that was held by the Senior Citizens Movement in Khorixas, Informanté visited a few elders’ homes to investigate. It was clear the houses are in a terrible state, as most toilets don’t flush and most of them are without toilet pots. Holes are clearly visible on the roofs and big cracks are visible in the walls. One of the house had been fixed with a wire and nails to hold the bricks together. “I have been living here for more than twenty years, I don’t know what to do anymore, I told the town council officials to help me but all they do is promise. They came one day and said we will be back soon, but until now, I am still waiting,” 68-year-old Clementine Nawases complained. Another resident said his toilet had been broken for five years, despite laying complaints with the Khorixas Town Council. “I am now getting tired of walking up and down to the town council to complain, yet when I went to pay my bills they take the money quickly. The last time I was there they told me to buy a new toilet and find myself somebody to put it in for me, but how will I be able to do that, I am just an ordinary pensioner,” an elder said. According to the elders, the Khorixas Town Council also overcharges them for basic utilities. Because their complaints fell on deaf ears the elders invited Benjamin Jagger, the president of the Senior Citizens Movement to take relevant steps. According to Jagger, “I am surprised that there is no social housing programme for the elders. Councillors are the ears, eyes and noses of the elders; they are the connection between the elders and the government. They are supposed to look after the wellbeing of elders.” The Kunene executive committee members also present at the meeting said they had a meeting with the chief executive officer of the town council, Nick Gaeseb early this year to discuss the high charges. According to Eveline Bam, secretary of the committee, “We had a meeting with the CEO, but he refused to reduce the charge for elders. “I treat elders, the youth and the working class the same” he said.” Jagger vowed to take relevant steps in the matter of elder’s plight. “I have noted your complaints and will soon hand it in to the relevant authorities,” he told the elders.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:21:22 +0000
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