Bills ‘taking food from our mouths’, say pensioners

For many residents at Montrose, a former retirement home in Southernwood in KuGompo City, what should be a time of peace and security has become a daily struggle to survive. With about 23 residents living at the block of flats, pensioners say rising levies, electricity charges and geyser costs are eating into their already stretched social grants, forcing some to give up basic necessities such as meat and leaving others worried about how they will afford medical care. Residents told theGo!&Expressthey now paid R1,000 for electricity, receiving 156 units, while those sharing a timed geyser forked out R850, and single residents paid R730.

Two residents who purchased life rights more than a decade ago, said the monthly costs had become unbearable. A detailed media inquiry was sent to Glynis de Kock, the executive director of the East London Senior Citizens Association (ELSCA), which is responsible for Montrose. In her written response, De Kock said the matters referred to had already been “discussed and clarified with the residents on numerous occasions”.

De Kock said: “As these matters are currentlysub judiceand form part of proceedings before the high court under case number 2026-140639, the ELSCA is not in a position to comment further or engage in public discussion regarding them. “Should you nevertheless decide to publish any article relating to these matters, we trust that it will be fair, balanced and factually accurate, taking into account the pending court proceedings. “ELSCA expressly reserves all of its rights in respect of any publication that is false, misleading or defamatory.” Speaking on condition of anonymity, one resident who bought life rights to her apartment for R75,000 in 2004, said she and her 88-year-old partner were struggling to make ends meet.

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“There’s a monthly levy and it’s supposed to cover maintenance and all sorts of things. “Now what I’m paying is close to R3,900,” she said.

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