KNYSNA NEWS - Residents of Farleigh outside Karatara say they have been left "discarded like secondhand furniture" after storm damage to ageing homes exposed what they describe as years of neglected maintenance by South African National Parks (SANParks).

It has been three weeks since gale-force winds tore away roof sheets from two older wooden homes in the village on Monday 11 May, and the residents are still living under the temporary canvas sheeting that cover the gaping holes in the roofs.

Community leader Priscilla Lukas has appealed for urgent intervention, saying already vulnerable residents are fearing further damage as winter approaches.

Little response from SANParks

According to Lukas, repeated attempts to obtain assistance and clarity from SANParks officials have yielded little response, despite the agency having assumed responsibility for the settlement's maintenance when Farleigh was transferred from the Department of Forestry to SANParks in 2005.

Farleigh consists of 28 homes housing about 130 residents, many of them retired former SANParks employees and their families. While some residents still work for SANParks, Lukas said many pensioners living in the village cannot afford major repairs themselves.

Ownership uncertainty

Compounding the problem is uncertainty around ownership of the properties.

"We do not have title deeds to our houses," Lukas explained. "We cannot fix the houses because they do not belong to us."

Residents say they have also been unable to obtain answers on whether the homes are insured, leaving them uncertain about their rights and responsibilities.

"Without title deeds we cannot do the maintenance ourselves or get the houses insured," Lukas said. "We are stuck between a rock and a hard place."

The community has reportedly attempted to engage SANParks management, including Wilderness regional head Pheladi Chuene, to arrange a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue and find a long-term solution.

According to Lukas, there was communi-cation initially, after emails were sent to SANParks management, but this later stalled.

Community hall

Frustration in the village intensified when SANParks workers reportedly arrived to replace a single roof sheet on the community hall while, according to residents, severely damaged homes remain unattended.

"There are much more urgent issues in Farleigh than the community hall," Lukas said. "People are living in houses with damaged roofs while [SANParks'] focus is on one sheet of roofing at the hall."

Residents say the lack of maintenance has left them feeling abandoned and ignored despite decades of service to the organisation and the forestry sector.

"Farleigh residents are appealing to SANParks to show compassion and help them," Lukas said. "It is a simple request: help us fix our roofs."

SANParks had not responded to Knysna-Plett Herald's media enquiries at the time of going to print.

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