Help for pensioners facing eviction

PENSIONERS facing eviction from Port Elizabeth retirement homes run by the Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging (ACVV) have approached the Rental Housing Tribunal and South African Human Rights Commission.

This emerged yesterday after an official from the Social Development Department visited one of the three homes where summonses had been issued to elderly residents who have not been able to afford their rental hikes.

The visit was prompted after one of the pensioners, Joseph May, 78, wrote to Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet asking her to intervene before he and 11 others were evicted.

In April, the pensioners were told rents would jump by between 25% and 100%.

Residents said their only source of income was a R1260 government pension.

In some cases, rent had increased from R600 to R1200 in a year for residents at the Louis Dubb Retirement Village in Kabega Park.