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The residents of Madala Hostel in Alexandra face a bleak future as Premier Panyaza Lesufi dodges responsibility for the redevelopment of this hostel and the relocation of residents to vacant container homes meant for those living in the most despicable and unsanitary conditions at this hostel.

In his oral reply to my question at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Premier Lesufi stated that Madala Hostel is not one of the six hostels overseen by the Gauteng Provincial Government and that the DA should inquire with the City of Johannesburg as to why things are not improving in this hostel.

However, the Premier ignored the fact that Madala Hostel is one of 65 hostels under the Hostel Redevelopment Programme being led by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development. Therefore, it is unclear why the Premier picks and chooses when to take responsibility for improving conditions in Gauteng hostels.

It is also concerning that the Premier has failed to provide a timeline for when the occupants of Madala Hostel would be relocated to the container homes built over four years ago but remain vacant and vulnerable to vandalism, unlawful invasion, and costing the department money to safeguard them.

It is clear from the Premier’s reply that his administration has abandoned its own strategy intended to convert existing hostel units into family units and have their occupants integrated into the rest of the community to promote social cohesion and unity. His administration is preoccupied with installing CCTVs and Wi-Fi in six hostels, while the rest remain dilapidated and unfit for human habitation.

The DA calls on all levels of government to work together to improve living conditions in hostels. We also demand that the MEC for Human Settlements, Lebohang Maile, urgently allocate the container homes to the residents of Madala hostels, who are seeking nothing more than dignified housing.

Issued by Mervyn Cirota MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements