MEDIA RELEASE 23 November 2006 Joburg renovates Casa Mia The City of Johannesburg has taken initial steps to renovate Casa Mia, a building that housed the elderly for many years. More than half of the 66 residents have moved out of the building while the remaining 33 are awaiting vacancies at different retirement villages. The relocation will allow authorities to scope out repair and reconstruction work that cost over R20 million and take up to a year to complete. Administration of the building, constructed in the 1940's, was taken over by the City in 1984. Its poor condition made the City's routine investment in maintenance and repair yield insignificant impact to turn around various problems including electrical and water reticulation systems. An engineering group has now been assigned to carefully access the soundness of the basic structure of the 177 rooms eight-floor structure and advise whether the building is habitable for its residents. In order to ensure safety and to fast track the repairs, the City negotiated with residents to be transferred to other retirement villages within Johannesburg. Residents agreed to sign a voluntary consent form to be moved to alternative habitable accommodation. Residents were charged R227 per month for rental although the City has been experiencing difficulties in collecting the rent. The projected monthly rental for the 177 rooms is R22 775 but the actual amount collected has been less than R9 000. Among the 33 residents still at the building, eleven have been found alternative accommodation and will soon be moved. Eighteen more need basic accommodation while 14 require specialized facilities with in-house professional service like nursing. Casa Mia was not originally planned as an "old age home" in accordance with the official definition. It has been run along the lines of a residential hotel for senior citizens. ENDS Issued by: Gabu Tugwana Director: Public Liaison City of Joburg Tel: (011) 407 7162 Fax: (011) 339 1531 Cell: 082 495 5673