Mayor Parks Tau hands over 20 house units to hostel dwellers
Diepkloof hostel dwellers' long wait for houses over.
Yesterday November 12, the City of Joburg executive mayor Parks Tau handed over high-rise flats to 20 beneficiaries at the Diepkloof hostel.
Tau, together with the MMC for housing Dan Bovu, handed over the four-roomed rental stock which consist of two bedrooms, a lounge and an open-plan kitchen.
The units have ablution, running water and pre-paid electricity.
Speaking at the handover meeting Tau said, “It’s time that hostels and what they stood for are done away with once and for all and their residents are integrated into broader society to advance social cohesion and nation building for the good of our City and indeed of our count.
“There are 983 residents at the Diepkloof hostel, according to a recent audit.”
Bashiseni Ndunkulu,one of the beneficiaries says he has been living at the hostel since 1980.
“I am happy that today we have been given the houses, with electricity and sanitation.
“We have been living in dilapidated and uninhabitable houses for many years,” said Ndunkulu.
Earlier this year, the MMC for housing in the CoJ Dan Bovu said, “He believed the high-rise flats would contribute immensely to the alleviation of the housing shortage and creating sustainable families.
“We are moving away from apartheid-style buildings.
“We have also learned that some of the hostel residents are unemployed and poor, which is why we are doing away with the rent option.”
