Joburg mayor visits hostel during protest

After a series of protests by residents of Diepkloof Hostel over the issue of service delivery, City of Johannesburg executive major, Kabelo Gwamanda finally visited the area.

This comes after the protest by hostel dwellers on N12 East, Diepkloof interchange left a milk truck torched and other members of the media allegedly attacked.

Gwandama together with the MMC of Housing, Anthea Leitch and other officials embarked on a walkabout in the hostel where dilapidated buildings, illegal electricity connections and poor sanitation facilities culd be spotted.

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According to one of the hostel residents who has allegedly been staying there for over 25 years, Princess Mkhize, they have been living in these horrendous conditions for way too long and the only way to get the City to respond to the issues they are facing was through demonstrations.

“Our hostel has been neglected by the City for too long and even now we have lost hope that they will come to our rescue because the living conditions here are bad, not even animals can survive living here,” Mkhize said.

She added that if no solutions are put into place as the executive mayor stated, they will not stop protesting until their dissatisfactions are taken into consideration.

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During the walkabout and engagement with residents, Gwandama was shocked by the living conditions in the hostel and acknowledged that service delivery was indeed neglected.

He assured residents that the city will now prioritise the hostel starting with electricity installation this coming week.

“We have come to realise that even basic services that our community is supposed to be receiving from the City are non-existent.

“It is unfortunate that my visit here comes after a demonstration which is the only process that our people understand to get results but we are here as the City to respond to the needs of our people.

“We have engaged with the leadership of the hostel and agreed that the first phase of our response will focus on the important aspects of their daily needs,” Gwandama said.

He added that they want to give residents assurance that the promised aspects will be delivered.

“When it comes to the refurbishment if the structure, it is a discussion that needs to be undertaken on a level of inter-government relations because some of the services required here are not provided by the City.

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“However by virtue of us having re-candled those relations, we will be able to ensure that we give a response that will bring long term solutions to these challenges the community has faced for the longest time.”

The executive director of the Johannesburg Human Settlements Department, Patrick Phophi told residents that an instruction has been issued to City Power to install electricity in the hostel and they will also start an engagement with Johannesburg Water on the issue of water and sanitation.

“The City and provincial government have compiled all the necessary needs for the hostel to ensure that residents have access to basic needs,” Phohi said.