Residents at several Manenberg Council flats, where the staircases are crumbling, are unhappy about the scaffolding that the City of Cape Town has replaced them with.
They complained that the steel structures are not safe and too narrow for them to use.
Natalie Leroy from Peta Court says: “Since April we have been struggling with these staircases.
“Only one person can walk here and that is if you are not big. If there should be an emergency like a fire, it would be difficult to run out.”
For Caroline Davids, who lives with an epileptic tenant, the staircases pose more danger.
“It is difficult to run up and down when my tenant has his episodes. It is also slippery when it rains because these are steel stairs,” she says.
“They are too steep to walk on, no furniture can be lifted up here.”
Caroline said they were made to sign an indemnity form that says they cannot go out when it rains.
“We signed the forms and when it is raining, we are not allowed to go out. If we do and we fall, the municipality will not take any responsibility.”
Mayco Member for Human Settlements Malusi Booi says they are aware that the staircases need to be fixed.
“The staircase project is one of many projects underway at our CRUs (City Rental Units). All City-owned CRUs undergo regular upgrades and maintenance,” Booi says.
The City’s Human Settlement Directorate plans to complete more upgrades and maintenance on CRUs across the metro over the weeks and months ahead.”
He added that the City is currently experiencing severe repair work backlogs, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, and doing their best to work through it as soon as possible.