WORK ON HOSTELS PROGRESSING

MANY City of Joburg hostels have been upgraded despite media claims to the contrary, although many have been subsequently vandalised.

The city, in a statement, says media reports that the government has spent R230 million at Dube, Diepkloof, Meadowlands and Mzimhlophe hostels and that the units are empty and unoccupied, are incorrect.

“This is not a true reflection on the ground as units across all hostels are currently being refurbished, while others have been fully completed.

“In 2019, the city was tasked with the responsibility to manage the hostels by province. The city then rehabilitated the units across hostels in a phased approach. After doing so, it was decided to convert these units into RDPs after it was established that those who had applied for houses within the hostel and surrounding areas, seeing as people could not afford to pay rental.

“We are currently finalising our processes to allocate residents hostels; once the refurbishing and certification has been completed, the units will be allocated. Work is already in progress on the ground, and we urge the reporter to go on site to familiarise themselves with reality,” said the statement.

The stages of the various hostels: Diepkloof : 56 units were allocated and managed by Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) out of

216 units built, 155 units have been rehabilitated.

Mzimhlophe: units built were allocated and managed by Joshco – there are new units under construction.

The Dube hostel has 1 416 units, with about 196 units under rehabilitation.

The Meadowlands hostel has 228 units; the only work to be undertaken is a sewer connection due to illegal connections in the area. There are works under way at the Helen Joseph Hostel in Alexandra and the construction of 144 units at extension 52. The Madala hostel, also in Alex, will be demolished once the units are completed at the sports field.

Incomplete units at the Nobuhle

Hostel in Alex will be completed through the Housing Development Agency appointed by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

MANY City of Joburg hostels have been revamped and are occupied.