Residents of Mary Asher Home, St Gabriel’s Home, and St Michael’s Hostel, supported by Ward 31 Councillor Remona McKenzie and community activists, protested outside the facilities on Friday, demanding urgent action to address alleged mismanagement and maladministration by the Durban Council of South African Women (DCSAW).
The protest aimed to deliver a memorandum of understanding to DCSAW, highlighting complaints about corruption, non-compliance, and poor governance. Cllr McKenzie accused the council of failing to hold annual general meetings (AGMs) for over a decade, in violation of its constitution. She claimed that board members continue to operate without elections or verifying membership legitimacy, rendering the council dysfunctional.
McKenzie also criticised the lack of financial and administrative transparency, which she said affects residents, stakeholders, and the Department of Social Development (DSD). Despite a Community Scheme Ombud Service (CSOS) adjudication order issued on 16 August, requiring financial records and document disclosures, DCSAW allegedly failed to comply.
“The current board must be dissolved, and new elections held,” said McKenzie, warning that failure to act would escalate the matter to the MEC for Social Development.
During the protest, a board member initially refused to accept the memorandum, accusing McKenzie of using the elderly for political motives. However, after intervention by Sydenham SAPS officers, the memorandum was accepted.
DCSAW has been given seven days to respond. If no action is taken, protesters plan to appeal to provincial authorities to dissolve the board and appoint new leadership.
