{"id":147957,"date":"2017-03-31T06:02:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-31T04:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/147957\/community-assists-after-centres-elderly-residents-are-left-without-water\/"},"modified":"2017-03-31T16:02:52","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T14:02:52","slug":"community-assists-after-centres-elderly-residents-are-left-without-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2017\/03\/31\/community-assists-after-centres-elderly-residents-are-left-without-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Community assists after centre\u2019s elderly residents are left without water"},"content":{"rendered":"

When residents of the Corrie Oberholzer Centre, in Dinwiddie, woke up on Tuesday, March 21, they discovered they had no water.<\/p>\n

It is reported, by Tiaan Kotz\u00e9, councillor of Ward 37, that intruders broke into the centre and stole copper pipes through the roof of the centre\u2019s clinic and washroom.<\/p>

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Capt George Raphulu, head of communications for the Germiston police, confirmed the robbery. \u201cDuring an inspection of the centre it was discovered that criminals had broken into and gained entry through the roof,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made off with 14 copper pipes, valued at R6 000, which supplied water to the centre.<\/p>

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\u201cThe thieves also made off with a weed-eater and lawnmower. However, the lawnmower was later recovered close to the centre\u2019s fence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A case of house break-in was opened by the station but no arrests have been made.<\/p>\n

Kotz\u00e9 told the GCN that the residents had been left without water for several days after the incident. \u201cThe main water supply feeding the centre cannot be opened due to the missing plumbing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He commended the community for coming together to donate bottles of water to residents while they waited for their water to be reconnected.<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly, a lack of water is not the only problem the centre faces,\u201d said Kotz\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaintenance is an issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe grass and garden are overgrown, the place is littered with rubbish and there are broken wall sockets under the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, two units have electrical problems and there are even weeds growing out of the centre\u2019s gutters.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the home is owned and operated by the metro, the responsibility of replacing the pipes and maintaining the property falls to the metro.<\/p>\n

A query was sent to the metro to find out when the pipes would be replaced and the other maintenance issues addressed. However, to date no comment has been received from them.<\/p>\n

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