Residents alarmed as concrete falls from City-owned building in Elsies River
Addo Hof residents raised the issue of safety in 2023.
Image: Supplied
Large pieces of concrete have broken away from a City-owned housing block in Elsies River, with debris landing near an open area used daily by residents at Addo Hof.
The City of Cape Town has requested a structural assessment of the building following the incident.
Addo Hof is a multi-storey Community Residential Unit owned and managed by the City.
Photos from the site show rubble at the base of the building and exposed steel reinforcing on a balcony where concrete has fallen away. Residents say the area is frequently used by elderly people and children.
GOOD councillor Suzette Little said she first raised concerns about the condition of the building in 2023.
She said she had written to the City’s Human Settlements department warning about structural deterioration, including crumbling staircases, damaged landings and falling masonry.
Little said residents had raised concerns about crumbling concrete and damaged sections of the building in 2023.
Debris from the deteriorating balcony of Addo Hof, a City-owned housing block in Elsies River, raises safety concerns among residents, particularly the elderly and children.
Image: Supplied
The City said a structural engineer has been requested to determine what caused the collapse.
“The investigation of the brick skin collapse is ongoing and we have requested a structural assessment by a structural engineer to determine the cause of the collapse,” said City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo.
He said City maintenance teams inspected two sections of the building next to the damaged area.
“It was determined that these two sections are securely anchored to the building and, therefore, not considered to be at risk,” he said.
The affected area has been cordoned off with red tape while City officials continue monitoring the building. No details have been given on how long the area will remain closed off.
Tyhalibongo said a contingency plan would be implemented while the assessment is under way.
He said monitoring of the building would continue while the City awaited the outcome of the engineer’s report.
The City has not said when the structural assessment will be completed or whether any residents may need to be temporarily moved if further risks are identified.
Addo Hof forms part of the City’s Community Residential Unit programme, which provides rental housing across Cape Town.
The City said inspections are continuing at the site while it awaits the outcome of the engineering report.
Tyhalibongo said more than R1.2 billion would be spent over the next few years on maintenance and upgrades at CRUs across the metro.