A Hanover Park oupa is up in arms after City of Cape Town officials constructed a “staircase to hell” outside his home, causing his grandchildren to continually get hurt.
Thomas Roux, 64, says after years of paying rent to the municipality he is gatvol of officials “taking him in the gevriet” as his family continually sukkels just to make it to the front door.
He says his problems started after the original concrete steps collapsed several months ago, resulting in officials replacing it with a temporary metal one.
UNSTABLE: Temporary staircase leading to Hanover Park flat. Picture: Monique Duval
“A few months ago I was sitting at home and it was a Sunday and I just heard kadwa! and there the whole staircase crashed,” he explains.
“We got such a skrik because all the concrete just fell to the floor. That stairs were vrot because they never looked after it.”
He says while nobody was injured, the family was forced to climb a steel pole for four days to get into their second-storey home in
Surwood Walk.
“You won’t believe me, but I climbed that palletjie everyday,” says the oupa.
“The children couldn’t even leave the house and it was like they are in prison. But, I had to climb like McGuyver, whole day, every day.”
He says the metal staircase is creating problems.
COMPLAINT: Hanover Park resident Thomas Roux gatvol. Picture: Monique Duval
“Now they put this old rusty thing in here and everyone is slipping and falling.
“Look how dangerous it is! You walk on it and it moves because it’s not stable.
“An elderly lady came here and she fell ugly.
“We go to the council every time to complain. They take us in the gevriet and say they are coming, but never do.
“What about me, if I have a dop in and I fall? This is the stairway to hell.”
DANGEROUS: The temporary steps are rusty and slippery. Picture: Monique Duval
City spokesperson, Luthando Tyhalibongo, says they will replace the temporary staircase.
“As a safety measure railings were installed to the temporary staircase in
October 2019,” he says.