Hostel residents want new houses

KANYAMAZANE – Residents of the old hostels known as eHostela at Spot Five have vented their dissatisfaction over the poor living conditions they are experiencing.

Mpumalanga News learnt that hostels were constructed on a poorly built, old foundations which show visible cracks.

“The walls are cracking with some of the houses in a dilapidated state. We fear that they can fall at any time,” explained an angry resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The locals demand now that government and the Department of Human Settlements remove them from this crumbling hostel, and build them houses at new sites in Tekwane South. Due to the stressful situation, with leaking drains day in and day out, the residents allege that they can hardly recover from some of their chronic illnesses.

Mr Bongani Mkhwanazi, chairperson of a locally based community organisation aimed at improving the lives of the residents, the Summer Smile Working Committee, indicated that all attempts of obtaining intervention from the local government had proved fruitless since 2007.

“By then, a resolution was taken to relocate the people of this section, but to date, they are still faced with similar challenges. Nothing has been done to improve them,” he said.

According to Mkhwanazi, their findings indicate that from 136 families, there were only 20 adults and 300 children.

“Seventy per cent are unemployed and those who work, are in unstable jobs. Some of the residents invaded the place, some are beneficiaries and some were allocated space by former councillors,” he said.

Mkhwanazi added that children from the area were dismally failing at school because they could hardly study due to loud music from neighbouring houses. He added that kids were exposed to abuse and illegal businesses in the area.

Mkhwanazi and members of the Summer Smile Working Committee, hence called on government to consider accommodating the residents elsewhere.

Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesperson for City of Mbombela, said the municipality was unaware of the people’s demands.

“Provided such a request is made, the municipality can appeal to the provincial department to do an assessment,” he said.

Ngala added that they were not aware of the alleged move and decision taken in 2007. “The municipality had a meeting with some of the hostel dwellers just before the municipal elections, and during the integrated development plan consultative session in 2016.

It was agreed that a report will be submitted to council requesting that a due diligent study be conducted about the hostel in view of the fact that some of the beneficiaries are not the legal owners. Some are young, they need a larger space to take care of their growth and such a report will be submitted to council as soon as possible,” he said.

Asked if there were plans in place to relocate the people, Ngala said they would be guided by the studies.

He added that the municipality was not aware of the residents’ demands to be allocated stands in Tekwane South. “The database of the former Mbombela is at 32 000, which includes all wards. The project of Tekwane South is an attempt by the municipality to reduce that backlog. However, potential beneficiaries will have to qualify in terms of the housing subsidy criteria,” concluded Ngala.

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