Gauteng Human Settlements Dept plans on making hostels more family friendly
Currently, hostels consist of single compound rooms originally built to accommodate mostly male migrant workers. Many of these structures have not been maintained and are deteriorating.
The Kwa-Mazibuko hostel in Katlehong, Gauteng. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng’s Department of Human Settlements is planning on transforming the province’s hostels to make them more family friendly.
Currently, these hostels consist of single compound rooms originally built to accommodate mostly male migrant workers.
Many of these structures have not been maintained and are deteriorating.
On Saturday, the department was in Meadowlands, Soweto, to consult with hostel residents on how to improve living conditions.
The Department of Human Settlements has taken accountability for previously excluding hostel residents in its plans to improve living conditions.
It has further acknowledged that prior proposals did not align with the residents' needs.
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Department official Thobile Dlamini said they have a new proposed plan, which will be finalised only after receiving input from hostel leaders.
“We are saying we want to change the concept of hostels and repackage it into something that is going to serve many parts of the residents' lives beyond having a structure of four walls in which residents sleep in.”
She added that the Department of Human Settlements was committed to ensuring that the new hostel structures are safe for women and children to live in.
DIGNITY
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said he wants to dignify the lives of hostel residents by improving their living conditions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Saturday meeting, Morero said improving hostels was part of the city's larger revitalisation plan.
“For us it’s important because we took a view as this government that part of what we have to do is to change the living conditions; two, improve the quality of life of our people and three, we took a decision on revitalisation of Johannesburg which cannot be without other sectors within human settlements.”