Jozi old age home in the dark due to power failure

Johannesburg - A power failure caused the last working lift in an old-age home in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg, to break down, leaving its elderly residents no choice but to climb stairs in the eight-storey building.

This is according to a report in Beeld newspaper on Thursday, saying two men were trapped in a lift during a power failure at the Tweedy Park old-age home last week.

The two men, a visitor and a resident, were freed by the fire brigade, but since then the lift had been out of order. The home's second lift had not been working for about five years.

Among others, one resident, Rina Blackbeard, aged 84, was now stuck in her room on the fifth floor because she could not go down the stairs with her walker.

Some were brave enough to try but not without the help of nurse Rina Hendrikz, who had to walk with them to make sure they did not fall.

Ekurhuleni regional manager for human settlements Eddie Mkomotse told Beeld the municipality would send someone to the home to evaluate the situation.