Residents of Dube Hostel and surrounding areas in Soweto are living in fear as the incomplete and abandoned Soweto Housing Project has turned into a drug den and a hotspot for criminal activities, including rape, robbery, and theft. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands answers from Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) on why this project has been abandoned.
The DA made this startling discovery yesterday during an oversight inspection. The block of flats remains incomplete with no roof. It has fallen victim to vandalism, with some walls showing signs of burning from individuals who have illegally occupied the premises. The area is dirty and not safe.
We also learned that the project was initiated over a decade ago by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements before being handed over to Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO). A dispute arose between the province and the City of Johannesburg’s human settlements departments, which ultimately caused the entire project to collapse.
See photos here, here and here.
There is a glaring lack of accountability from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City of Johannesburg. This project should have been completed to provide adequate housing for the dilapidated Dube Hostel residents. It has been allowed to deteriorate, making it susceptible to vandalism and decay, and has become a refuge for criminals.
The DA urges Premier Panyaza Lesufi to investigate the delays affecting this project. The fact that he was not at the helm during the launch of this initiative cannot be used as an excuse, the buck stops with him.
The DA will table questions to the MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, to ascertain how much has been spent on this project, who is responsible for completion and why it has been abandoned.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would have ensured the completion of this project and ensured adequate bulk infrastructure to benefit the hostel residents.