Dilapidated state of Eldorado Park flats belies Gauteng government’s maintenance claims

The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements says it is continuing to maintain Alphabet Flats in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, but residents say there has been no maintenance since 2015 and the buildings are in a dangerous state of disrepair.

A recent visit by Daily Maverick confirmed the residents’ concerns, revealing crumbling structures.

From blocks AA to RR, the Alphabet Flats in Eldorado Park’s Extension 1 house around 300 families, with an average of seven people per unit. Each block tells a story of neglect, with electricity issues, sewage spills, collapsing structures and uncollected garbage.

A bathroom in one of the dilapidated government owned Eldorado Park Block Flats which are renowned for high levels of crime. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

The flats, built during the apartheid era, are overcrowded and crumbling, housing multiple generations of the same families in two-bedroom apartments.

Residents say the last time their flats were refurbished was in 2015, nearly a decade ago, despite ongoing promises by the government. The area’s high crime rate and what residents, who are mostly coloured, describe as “racial profiling” have only added to the challenges.

The community said they were promised refurbishment and title deeds two years ago, but the government’s focus had shifted to the installation of water and electricity meters, which residents said ignored their pleas for basic maintenance and safety measures.

‘They don’t care’

Arthur Wilson, the secretary of the Eldorado Park Extension 1 Project Steering Committee, said living conditions in the flats were inhumane.

“[The] housing [department] has not serviced these flats for years. The last time they came here, they were only concerned about installing water and electricity meters, ignoring the fact that we have had no maintenance for too long,” said Wilson.

“Some of us don’t even have hot water because the geysers are broken. In some units, there is no water at all. And yet, instead of fixing these issues, the department seems more interested in charging rates through meters and shifting their responsibility of maintenance by gratifying residents with title deeds.”

Sewer on the street near the dilapidated government owned Eldorado Park Block Flats which are renowned for high levels of crime. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Wilson believes the department’s actions reflect a disregard for the predominantly marginalised community.

“They don’t care to listen to our concerns. Instead, they installed solar lights in the same cracked walls of buildings that are on the verge of collapse. It feels like they are just waiting for the worst to happen.”

Jasmine, a 47-year-old father of two teenage daughters who gave only his first name, has lived in one of the flats his entire life. He, like many others, has tried to make the apartment livable by handling basic repairs himself.

“I have fixed what I can — replacing broken items, unclogging toilets and repairing electrical faults. But right now, we don’t have water in the kitchen or bathroom and the windows won’t close. It’s a constant struggle, especially worrying about my daughters’ safety when I’m away looking for work as I am not employed,” he said.

Jasmine in his flat. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Another resident who preferred not to be named told Daily Maverick “We have been waiting forever for anything to be fixed. The electricity in our unit is unreliable. Sometimes we have no power because it seems we are all on one circuit breaker, and if someone else uses too much, we are left in the dark.”

Government claims

The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements confirmed to Daily Maverick that it was responsible for the management and maintenance of the flats and claimed it had been actively maintaining them.

Department spokesperson Gift Langa said that a conditional assessment was completed last year to determine the extent of repairs needed.

“Maintenance has been ongoing, and the department has never ceased attending to faults reported or recorded.”

He said a panel of contractors was assigned maintenance tasks on a rotational basis and the budget for annual repairs was used as needed.

The crumbling flats serve as a stark reminder of the wider housing crisis in Gauteng.

While government officials claim that maintenance is ongoing, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Residents continue to live in dangerous, unsanitary conditions, with no clear timeline for when repairs will be made. DM

This article was amended to protect the identity of a resident who preferred not to be named after publication.