Social housing tenants at Willowdene Village in Fairview are fuming over a nightmarish mould problem that is allegedly causing them to fall sick at an alarming rate.
Spreading from the nooks and crannies to the ceiling and skirting, dark patches of brown and black are visible in the worst-affected units as tenants scramble to get rid of the grime.
IMIZI Housing, the social housing company which owns the development, declined to comment fully on the matter when approached.
Weekend Post understands mould at IMIZI developments is the responsibility of the landlord, though a copy of a lease seen by a reporter fails to expressly highlight a fungus-related maintenance clause.
In one part, the lease states:
“Any maintenance occasioned by normal wear and tear, and not by or through the lessee, shall be repaired at the cost of the lessor. The lessee must, however, at all times, inform the lessor forthwith, and in writing, regarding any defects in or on the property.”
A resident of five years, Carmen Grimsel, who occupies a two-bedroom flat with her family, said her problem began about three years ago and had worsened over time.
Since then, Grimsel has been to the doctor several times, including twice in the past few months, complaining of a congested chest and a skin rash caused by scrubbing off the fungi.
“It is causing huge health problems,” she said.
“I’ve seen the doctor twice [this year], and in both cases, they stated the mould was likely the biggest cause.”
She claimed her 14-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter have also borne the brunt of the stubborn grime.
“Both of them have chest problems.
“This year, my daughter has missed a full term at school because she’s been sick.
“We’re only healthy for one or two weeks at a time, whereas we deal with coughs and sneezes most times.”
She claimed maintenance workers failed to undertake extensive cleaning.
“They’ve come out several times for the mould in my bathroom and bedrooms,” Grimsel said.
“I saw the [maintenance worker] on at least two occasions painting over the mould.
“That was three or four months ago, and now I’m sitting with mould again.”
Chantel van der Westhuizen, living in a different block, said her family’s quality of life had diminished after her father fell sick and they faced recurring doctor’s bills.
Mould is caused by excess condensation resulting from high humidity due to an underlying damp problem.
Leaking water pumps attached to the outside wall of some units are attributed to wet and moist conditions.
“My father’s room is next to a JoJo tank installed outside our unit.
“On numerous occasions, it overflows after heavy rains, and that is when you can see the mould in the bedroom,” Van der Westhuizen said.
She rued the constant burden of footing an exorbitant doctor’s bill.
“My father is a pensioner and doesn’t have medical aid. And every time he goes, there’s money he has to cough up.
“He’s given antibiotics, which work as long as the antibiotics are in the system, and one or two weeks later or a month later, the symptoms — coughing and tightness of the chest — are back.”
Another tenant, Claudi Hancox, claimed she, her husband and young daughter had fallen sick.
Willowdene tenant association chair Ismail Moola labelled the issue an ongoing and widespread health hazard.
“It’s a sensitive and serious issue at Willowdene,” Moola said.
IMIZI Housing CEO Tony Lloyd declined to elaborate on the issue.
“There’s a process for the tenants to meet me, which they have not followed.
“If they want to address those concerns to myself, I’m happy first to meet them.
“I’m not bypassing that process and going straight to the press.
“This is the first that I’m aware of the seriousness of these [complaints],” Lloyd said.
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