A R30 Million Facility Left Idle as Seniors Suffer Without Support
The Tembisa R30m Elderly Home stays closed six years after its completion, a stark symbol of administrative delays and missed opportunities in Gauteng’s social development sector. Built to house 59 elderly residents, the state-of-the-art facility has stood idle since 2019 due to a combination of structural issues, rezoning complications, and the absence of a managing non-profit organisation (NPO).
Structural and Legal Setbacks Delay Reopening
The Tembisa Old Age Home was meant to be a safe haven for the elderly, particularly those neglected or abused in their communities. However, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development flagged structural concerns shortly after its completion, including sagging window lintels. These issues, along with a rezoning hurdle involving a nearby sports field, led the Department of Employment and Labour to order a shutdown.
Repairs were reportedly completed in late 2024, and the home was issued an occupational certificate. But despite being physically ready, the facility remains closed. The latest setback is the province’s failure to appoint an NPO to manage operations—a delay that continues to jeopardise the welfare of Tembisa’s elderly population.
Political and Community Voices Raise Alarm
Gauteng Democratic Alliance (DA) MPL Refiloe Nt’sekhe has been vocal in the legislature, pressing MEC Faith Mazibuko for answers. According to Nt’sekhe, more than R500,000 has already been spent on repairs, yet the building remains unused.
“Each day that this facility stands empty highlights a profound failure to provide care and support to the most vulnerable members of our community,” Nt’sekhe told the media in a statement.
Local activist Lily Hlongwane echoed these concerns, sharing harrowing accounts of elderly residents forced to live in unsafe and undignified conditions.
“The challenge is that these elderly people are being abused by their grandchildren… They need to have people bathing them,” Hlongwane said in an interview.
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Tembisa R30m Elderly Home Stays Closed: Who Is Accountable?
According to the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the final roadblock lies in the appointment of a suitable NPO. While the physical infrastructure is deemed fit for purpose, no operational staff or management team has been established, leaving the facility in limbo.
The department’s spokesperson, Teddy Gomba, acknowledged that the necessary repairs and rezoning have been completed. Still, without an entity to run the facility, it cannot be opened to residents. Gomba confirmed that the department is in the final stages of appointing an NPO, but no definitive timeline was offered.
The Human Cost of Bureaucratic Delays
The continued closure of the Tembisa Old Age Home reflects a broader crisis in elder care in South Africa. Many seniors in the region are left vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and poverty. One elderly woman was recently discovered living in a dog kennel before being rescued by Hlongwane, underscoring the urgent need for functional eldercare infrastructure.
While the Tembisa Old Age Home construction cost of R30 million initially promised hope, the ongoing delay in opening it has turned public sentiment into frustration and disbelief. Community members are urging the provincial government to fast-track the administrative processes and deliver on its commitment to the elderly.
A Call for Immediate Action
The Tembisa R30m Elderly Home stays closed, but the need for it grows more urgent with each passing day. As the population of elderly South Africans rises, so too does the demand for safe, structured, and dignified care environments. The government must act swiftly, not just to justify the public funds spent but to honour the dignity of the elders who deserve better and ensure that the Tembisa Old Age Home reopens and becomes a beacon of hope for our elderly.
