Diepkloof hostel residents say they've lost patience with Gauteng govt's handling of housing crisis
Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile visited the area on Tuesday following a protest over the deteriorating state of their homes on Monday.
Protesting Diepkloof hostel residents demand water, electricity and decent housing on 18 March 2023. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Diepkloof hostel residents in Soweto said they’ve lost patience with the Gauteng government's handling of the housing crisis at hostels across the province.
Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile visited the area on Tuesday following a protest over the deteriorating state of their homes on Monday.
READ: Gauteng Human Settlements MEC to visit Diepkloof hostel after disruptive protest
During the oversight visit, Maile acknowledged that the structures were teetering on the brink of collapse, as his department grappled with a ballooning housing backlog of over 1.2 million residents.
"However, we don't want to just deal with this hostel in isolation. There are problems everywhere. Kagiso hostel is a problem, Mamelodi hostel is a problem. We don't want to wait until there is a protest. By next week or so, we would like to meet with all the Izindunas, with the municipalities and be realistic with what we are doing."
Maile promised to meet the residents on Thursday, accompanied by Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
However, this commitment has sparked anger among some residents, who are demanding that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi take their concerns more seriously.
"And when we strike they say 'no, come negotiate on the table'. What table? We are sick and tired of tables. We want to fix this now because Panyaza takes us for granted. He must respect us."