The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, and the Gauteng MEC for the Department of Human Settlements (GDHS), Tasneem Motara, provide clarification on the newly announced Hostel Revitalisation Plan. This plan aims to transform hostels into spaces that enhance various aspects of residents’ lives, rather than merely serving as simple structures with four walls for sleeping.
“This is not the first time such a commitment has been made. Since taking office in 2022, Lesufi has consistently highlighted his commitment to transforming hostels and ensuring suitable living conditions that ensure the dignity of hostel residents, as specified in our Constitution. However, little has been done to improve these conditions. The DA now seeks concrete plans and real action, rather than promises from Premier Lesufi and MEC Motara,” says DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota MPL.
It is also high time that Premier Lesufi be clear and specific when discussing hostels in the province. In his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), he praised his government for installing Wi-Fi and CCTV cameras in six hostels. However, he did not reiterate his earlier claim in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature that he is only responsible for those six hostels out of the 65 under the Hostel Redevelopment Programme initiated in 2007. This raises the question: what should be done with the 59 neglected hostels which we know are under government supervision?
The DA has consistently stated that the responsibility for maintaining and restoring the hostels in Gauteng should be a joint initiative between the Gauteng Human Settlements and the numerous municipal housing departments in Gauteng. However, Premier Lesufi and the minority government have not taken this on board, clearly showing that they have no intention of improving the lives of hostel residents, who continue to live in squalor and despair.
The Hostel Revitilisation Plan must indicate with specific timelines what steps will be taken to bring about the necessary changes. All that is promised right now is a rehash of previous undertakings all of which are unfulfilled
The DA is the only party in Gauteng with a clear solution for converting existing hostels into family units. We will advocate for all three levels of government to collaborate to improve living conditions in these hostels. Instead of avoiding responsibility, we will ensure that all hostels included in the redevelopment programme are considered for upgrades.
Hostel residents are tired of empty promises regarding improvements to their living conditions. They seek tangible changes that will positively impact their daily lives. The DA will continue to hold the Gauteng Provincial Government accountable to its commitments, ensuring they prioritise the urgent housing needs of Gauteng Hostel residents.