Manenberg pensioner's fall highlights safety concerns in City maintenance

A 62-year-old pensioner from Manenberg narrowly avoided serious injury after falling down a one-storey staircase that had been left in a dangerous state by city workers during maintenance. The incident occurred on Friday, July 31, 2026, at a council-owned flat located at 7D Seine Road. The woman, identified as Valerie Philander, suffered minor injuries and was treated at Heideveld Day Hospital before being released. She is currently using crutches and unable to walk independently. Philander had previously contacted the City of Cape Town multiple times regarding the faulty handrail on the staircase leading to her apartment. On the day of the incident, city workers arrived and began replacing the balustrade. While working, they loosened the existing railings and removed the bolts. However, instead of securing the area or leaving warnings, they departed the site. Philander, who was caring for her 92-year-old wheelchair-bound mother at the time, went outside to fetch water for the dog. As she returned, she lost her balance and fell down the exposed staircase. Her daughter, Jasmain Davids, described the sequence of events. She stated that the workers had ground off the nuts and left the staircase in an unstable condition. They told Philander they would return shortly, but they never came back. According to Davids, her mother was aware of the instability but felt compelled to retrieve the water due to the presence of the dog inside. After returning, she attempted to climb the stairs again, only to suffer the fall. Davids revealed that her mother is now unable to care for her paralyzed grandmother, adding to the emotional and logistical burden on the family. “Nothing is broken. She is just badly hurt. She is currently using two crutches so she can't really move,” she said. “But then my granny is paralysed. She was looking after my granny. Now she can't look after my granny because she is in a situation.” Local activist Yumna Alexander, founder of the Hopeful Leaders Democrats, voiced her concern through an open letter posted on Facebook. She criticized the city for allowing maintenance work to create a hazardous environment without proper precautions. “It is completely unacceptable to perform maintenance on a residential staircase, leave the structure in a condition that poses a severe safety hazard, provide no demarcation or warning tape beyond a verbal mention, and then abandon the site unattended for over two hours,” she wrote. In response, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim confirmed that the city is investigating the incident. He stated that the Public Housing Department is aware of the case and is treating it seriously. “The department is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and an internal investigation has been initiated to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” he said. He noted that the maintenance team was working on a nearby rental property and agreed to assist Philander with her staircase repairs. The tenant was informed that the staircase should not be used during the work, though it appears these instructions were not effectively communicated or enforced. City officials have yet to release further details about the ongoing inquiry or potential measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, the affected family continues to navigate the challenges posed by the accident, highlighting broader concerns about safety and accountability in municipal services.