By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Diepkloof Hostel residents have embarked on a protest action in the early hours of Monday, March 18 on the M1/N1 highways and Chris Hani Road.
The aim of the protest was to put pressure on the Gauteng provincial government into fulfilling promises made in relation to addressing Human Settlement related issues.
One of the community leaders at the hostel Sibongiseni Khoza said, they had no less than seven meetings with the provincial government to discuss the refurbishment of the Diepkloof hostel, but there’s been little to no change.
Khoza says that while it may be the city’s responsibility, he believes the perceived neglect from the premier’s office is politically motivated.
“If the premier took us seriously, he would be here. But there’s this thing that hostels are occupied by Zulu people. Maybe he thinks we’re with a faction he’s not aligned with. That’s why things are moving so slowly.”
In a written response, the premier’s spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, said Diepkloof Hostel is not the responsibility of the province.
“There are six hostels under the Gauteng provincial government ( George Goch, Denver, Jeppe, MBA, LTA Rethabile, and Murray and Roberts). These hostels currently receive daily maintenance and environmental upkeep to make them habitable.
“Diepkloof Hostel is not one of the six provincial hostels. Premier Panyaza Lesufi has made a public call to all municipalities to emulate our TISH program by focusing on improving the inhumane conditions of hostels under their authority,” Phamla wrote.
In June 2023, Finance MMC Dada Morero announced the allocation of R154 million for hostels, including a collective R104 million towards the Dube, Helen Joseph and Madala hostels.
R30 million was allocated to the maintenance of hostels.
Khoza said while they welcomed the recent electrification of the hostel by City Power, hostel dwellers are still forced to live under undignified conditions with dilapidated structures.
According to him, there are more than 7,000 residents living at the hostel, which was built in 1959.
He said they share under 80 mobile toilets.
“We asked for these toilets as a temporary solution to avoid long queues. We wanted dignified toilets.”
Meanwhile Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said they were alerted to the planned protest on Sunday, prompting the deployment of officers.
He said protesters targeted Chris Hani Road and Diepkloof interchange.
“Our concern is that this thing was happening not far from Baragwanath hospital where a lot of people are accessing this hospital in South Africa and outside the borders, so we had to make sure that services are not interrupted due to this traffic [disruptions].”