Elderly ‘held hostage’ in apartment block

DURBAN - Senior citizens at a Durban apartment block say they’ve been held captive in their homes for six months.

The city has cut power to common areas over a water bill dispute.

This has shut down lifts in the 10-storey building, keeping the frail residents locked in.

The residents we’ve spoken to say they have not been given adequate feedback by the managing agent.

Trafalgar -- the block’s managing agent -- said it would be referring our enquiry to the board of trustees but a response was not received in time.

For many of the 80 families here, moving is not a practical solution.

The eThekwini Municipality has acknowledged our request for comment but did not provide one over two days.

* eNCA’s senior reporter Dasen Thathiah finds out more.