Hostel residents urged to make complexes liveable
01 October 2015
While moves are under way to convert single-sex hostels in Johannesburg into family housing units, their occupants have been urged to take responsibility for their current neighbourhoods in line with applicable rules and regulations.
Many hostels in the city are mired in challenges such as illegal electricity connections, drugs and alcohol abuse, the proliferation of drugs, operation of illegal businesses, the lack of respect among residents, poor maintenance of the surroundings, illegal dumping and unacceptable noise levels, to mention a few. Many of the problems were identified by the City of Johannesburg’s Departments.
At a recent consultative meeting at George Goch Hostel in the City’s Region F, attended by various stakeholders, tenants were urged to contribute to the creation of a liveable environment at the single-sex residential complex. The meeting was attended by officials of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, Region F’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM), and the City’s Departments of Social Development, Emergency Management Services (EMS) and JMPD.
Speaking at the meeting, Phumlani Sithole, 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 George Goch. If you’re not happy about something, please let us know,” Sithole said.
One of the rules, he said, was that animals and broken-down vehicles were not allowed on the hostel premises. Some of the residents complained about rodents’ infestation.
“We cannot do much if you (the residents) don’t help us. We need to get rid of the old apartheid hostel dwellings and build family units. We certainly have to make changes in hostels,” he said.
He added that the provincial government had provided the hostel with washing lines.
“There are, however, residents who prefer to hang their washing on windows. This is not allowed. Some complain that their clothes get stolen when they use the washing lines. That is why we need to emphasise the point of respecting each other and living in harmony,” Sithole said.
He said his department and CRUM are putting together a booklet containing rules and regulations for hostels residents. City of Johannesburg’s by-laws affecting hostel residents will also be included in this simplified easy to understand booklet.
The Department of Social Development’s Mandla Phahlake spoke about programmes aimed at assisting hostel 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.
Responding to a question on housing, Sithole said when the government started building RDP houses near George Goch Hostel, most of the residents did not register, while others tried do so well after the deadline. Ward 65 Councillor Mandlakayise Simelane said the meeting went very well as it covered almost everything that hostel residents wanted to know.
“People need knowledge to develop and grow. There is a need to continue with such meetings in all communities, including informal settlements,” he said.