Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing in the City of Johannesburg, Mlungisi Mabaso has issued a stern warning to those illegally occupying senior citizen villages or old age homes to vacate immediately before the department takes legal action.
Mabaso said it has emerged that several senior citizen villages are occupied by people who do not qualify to live in them.
“There are some tenants who live with their families who do not qualify to live in the rental stock for senior citizens as the minimum criteria is above the age of 55,”
According to Mabaso some pensioners are living with their children and grandchildren in some of these facilities, to a point where by some of their children have end up inheriting the units when they pass on.
“It’s disturbing that the facilities have become a breeding ground for illegal activities such as drug and alcohol abuse in and around the facilities,” said Mabaso.
He said that compromised the safety and security of the vulnerable senior citizens who should live in these facilities peacefully.
“They are blocking deserving senior citizens who should occupy these facilities. We will unfortunately have to take legal action should they not vacate voluntarily.”
Mabaso has called for an urgent occupancy audit to determine who is occupying the units and who should vacate immediately. He also ordered an investigation into how the rules were flouted and allowed so many people to illegally occupy the units.
