Nelson Mandela Bay to regain control of old age homes

"The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality's mayoral committee resolved to decisively deal with run-down old age homes in the northern areas," mayoral spokesman Kupido Baron said in a statement.

 

"The decision taken at the end of October, states that the executive director of human settlements, Mr Lindile Petuna, should ensure that the necessary steps are taken to regain control of the facilities and that a legal opinion be obtained prior to the implementation of several proactive recommendations."

 

One of the recommendations made was indentifying funds to be used to revamp the units at the homes to make them more habitable with toilets inside.

 

Other recommendations included terminating the contracts between the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan council and the Eastern Cape council for the aged; that the municipality ask for proposals from welfare organisations to manage the homes; and that long-term leases be awarded to the successful welfare organisations.

 

"This decisive action by the mayoral committee will surely be music to the ears of senior citizens who are living under difficult conditions due to the ineffective management of these facilities," Baron said.