A Manenberg family is calling for accountability after a 62-year-old woman was injured when she fell from a staircase at her council flat while repair work was being carried out.
Picture: PixabayAccording to reports, Valerie Philander had previously
raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the concrete staircase
structure at her home.
Philander claims that, instead of addressing the issue
immediately, workers removed bolts from the safety railing while carrying out
repairs.
She says she was warned not to lean on the railing because
it was not secure. However, Philander later lost her balance while carrying a
water bowl for her dog and fell down the staircase.
The fall left her with injuries to the left side of her
body and has raised concerns from her family about whether adequate safety
measures were in place while the repair work was underway.
The family is now seeking answers and accountability over
the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The City of Cape Town has confirmed that the incident is
being investigated. The City says the tenant had been informed about the planned
repair work beforehand.
The municipality has also advised the family to submit a
public liability claim in relation to the incident. The City says it will
engage with the family through the local housing office as the matter is
investigated.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of
residents living in municipal housing, particularly when maintenance and repair
work is being carried out on shared structures.
For Philander and her family, the focus now is on
understanding exactly what happened and ensuring that appropriate steps are
taken to prevent similar incidents from happening to other residents.
As the City’s investigation continues, the family is
waiting for clarity on the circumstances that led to the fall and whether any
further action will be taken.
Done By: Keelyn Jardien
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