The City of Cape Town has confirmed that a staircase at a public housing complex in Hanover Park is structurally stable, following concerns raised by residents about deteriorating conditions in some units.
“The City’s maintenance teams conduct regular inspections at our Hanover Park public housing units and can confirm that the staircase is stable,” the City said.
“Our team of engineers has confirmed that the steel tubing in the vertical column provides adequate support to the landing slab.”
The City added that officials will continue to monitor the area and conduct further assessments where necessary.
“Staff will endeavour to visit the site and assess what further action may be required as soon as possible,” it said.
The municipality further stated that maintenance of public housing facilities is ongoing across the metro.
“Importantly, the City is addressing all public housing staircases requiring repair or replacement, prioritising them according to urgency,” the City said.
According to the municipality, broader upgrade projects are also underway, including roof replacements, ceiling repairs, and window replacements.
“The City is also currently carrying out general repairs and upgrades to public housing units across the metro,” it added, noting that more than R1.2 billion is being invested over the coming years.
The City’s response follows concerns raised by Hanover Park resident Nadiya Braaf regarding long-standing maintenance issues in her unit, including cracked structures, rusting railings, and leaking roofs, which she says have been reported repeatedly over several years without resolution.
“I’ve been living in this house for most of my life, and up until now, nothing has been done,” Braaf told VOC News.
“My landing is cracked, and the railings along the staircase are deteriorating due to rust.”
Residents say they continue to report maintenance concerns but often wait years for repairs to be carried out, raising ongoing concerns about safety and service delivery in the area.
Photo: Vocfm
