Hostel residents use IDP to complain of neglect

22 April 2016

 

Residents of hostels in the City of Johannesburg’s Region F feel neglected and ignored as several service delivery breakdowns are allegedly not being attended to in their areas.

 

The residents voiced their dissatisfaction during an Integrated Development Planning (IDP) meeting at the Bertha Solomons Hall in Jeppestown, eastern Johannesburg, on Wednesday April 20.

Hostel residents told Regional Director Irene Mafune, councillors and officials that not enough resources were being channelled towards the hostels around the city.

“We’re being made to feel like stepchildren. City officials have allowed conditions to deteriorate in the hostels. At Denver Hostel, for example, burst water pipes have not been attended to despite complaints being lodged with Joburg Water officials,” said Ward 65 resident Bheki Zondo.

He also called on the City to invest in ambulances.

“Every time residents of Denver Hostel call an ambulance, it arrives the next day. You can call at 6pm and the ambulance will only arrive at 8am the following day. We’re told there are not enough ambulances to service the City,” said Zondo.

Ward 61 resident Zodwa Phaka said Pikitup was not adequately servicing her area and alleged that police were “collecting envelopes from drug dealers instead of arresting them”.

“There are taverns everywhere. There are buildings that go up with no approved plans. When you report, no one acts. How did the liquor board approve the licences of taverns that operate next to crèches and churches?” asked Phaka.

In response to water and sanitation complaints, Joburg Water’s Regional Manager, Mark Kruger, said Jeppestown’s aging infrastructure was being overhauled on an ongoing basis.

“Areas like Jeppestown could probably be 100 years old and the condition of the water pipes has deteriorated considerably. But Joburg Water is continuously upgrading the infrastructure,” he said.

The City’s Executive Director of Development Planning and Urban Management, Yondela Silimela, urged residents to contact City officials whenever there was a challenge.

“There have been instances in which people use fraudulent building plans to carry out construction. Work with us so we can root out such people. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s Superintendent Lawrence Nonjakazi called on residents to take part in sector meetings, in which crime and other issues were discussed."

“If you go to our car pound, you’ll see lots of impounded cars from panel beaters operating on the pavements. For us to enforce by-laws, you need to work with us,” said NonjakaziMafune said the City’s Buyisa iJozi campaign to reclaim hijacked buildings and spruce up the inner city was starting to show “encouraging results” as the rightful owners were returning to their properties to resume ownership.

She also said it was the City’s policy to use local labour whenever development occurred. Mafune encouraged local SMMEs and co-operatives to bid for Jozi@Work packages. In the past 10 months 68 Jozi@Work packages were awarded to SMMEs and co-operatives in Region F.