Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) has denied claims that 72 frail care and disabled patients at the Tswelopele Frail Care Centre in Hillbrow, Johannesburg face homelessness.
The DA in Gauteng claimed that the department failed to rescue the centre.
72 patients in limbo: Joburg frail care centre to close due to lack of funding
The party’s social development spokesperson, Bronwynne Engelbrecht, said the centre was shutting its doors after it operated for 17 years, providing 24-hour residential frail care, social work services, respite care and safety beds. The centre also offers learning opportunities for the auxiliary social work, nursing auxiliary students and final academic year medical students.
Faced with severe financial challenges, it was unable to pay its rent, with an outstanding amount of R3 million, Engelbrecht said
Representatives have been engaging with the department since 2019 and have asked for help.
“Tswelopele has only once received feedback from the department after a year of acknowledging their email and the department promised to revert back with a solution,” Engelbrecht said.
Engelbrecht added:
But, in a statement on Monday, the Gauteng Department of Social Development said it “noted with concern the misleading” statement by the DA.
“Indeed, the department is aware that the NPO is currently being evicted by its landlord because it defaulted on its rental commitment which accumulated to R3 million while the board was responsible for governance and administration of the NPO,” spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana said.
Ndwayana added that the centre was taken to court and that the department and the City of Johannesburg, were respondents in the matter.
She said the matter was heard in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on 31 January 2022.
“The matter was removed from the court roll, by agreement between the parties on condition that the department will implement the action plan for the placement of all beneficiaries at alternative facilities.”
Following these developments, Ndwayana said the department held consultations with the board and staff members at Tswelopele and ensured alternative facilities to relocate beneficiaries were identified.
She said two homes for disabled people and six old age homes were identified.
Family members were also consulted and visited the identified facilities from 7 to 11 March, she said.
“As such, the department can confirm it secured alternative placements for all beneficiaries with the Department of Health, ensuring all health aspects before and during the transfer of beneficiaries to alternative placement are met.
“The department is perturbed by attempts to use the plight of the destitute to perpetuate a negative narrative regarding the work the department implements to further the social protection and development of the poor and vulnerable. The department remains committed to its mandate and would not abdicate its responsibility and allow the vulnerable in its care to go unprotected,” she added.
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