Help us to help you, City’s hostel residents urged

26 October 2015

 

While single-sex hostels in Johannesburg are in the process of being phased out to make way for modern family accommodation, tenants have been urged to take responsibility for their current residences.

 

Many hostels in the City are plagued by problems such as illegal electricity connections, drugs and alcohol abuse and the proliferation of drugs, operation of illegal businesses, the lack of respect, illegal dumping and unacceptable noise levels.

At a consultative meeting held at Cleveland Hostel in the City of Johannesburg’s Region F on Sunday October 25, residents were urged to play their part in the improvement of their living conditions.

 

The meeting was attended by Ward 65 councillor Mandlenkosi Simelane as well as officials of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, Region F’s Citizen Relations Urban Management (CRUM), the City’s Department of Health and Social Development and Pikitup.

 

Boisane Khumalo, Deputy Director of Property Management in the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, asked residents to cooperate with the City and all relevant government departments. Khumalo said his department had plans to improve the tenants’ living conditions but pleaded with them to refrain from engaging in criminal activities, illegal electricity connections, illicit businesses and substance abuse. He also said it was important for them to pay their monthly dues.
Khumalo said residents should take care of their residences “because this is your home away from home”.

 

“If you want improvement to your living conditions take care of your residences and refrain from harbouring people who have no permission to live here. Respect and protect one another and help us to improve the conditions you live in,” he said.

Phumlani Sithole, also of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, called on residents to abide by the rules and regulations governing hostels.

 

“All places have rules and regulations. The same applies to hostels and these rules apply to all hostels, not only Cleveland. If you’re not happy about something, please let us know,” Sithole said.

 

“We can’t do much if you don’t help us. We need to get rid of the old apartheid hostel dwellings and build family units in their place. We certainly have to make changes in hostels but you must abide by the rules,” he said.

 

Mandla Phahlake, of the City’s Department of Health and Social Development, spoke about programmes aimed at assisting residents to lead healthy lives.

 

“For example, we have a food programme through which we teach people to make use of available land to grow food. We do supply seeds to help you start your own food garden,” he said.

 

Phahlake said his department also provided counselling services on a range of social challenges. Residents who spoke at the meeting listed several issues that they said made their living conditions unbearable. These included leaking water pipes, water shortages, old and uncomfortable single beds, and constant fights, which often result in murders.