Sethokga and NCP Hostels remain in Crisis
by Cllr. Tebogo Masenya — DA Shadow MMC for Infrastructure Services in Ekurhuleni
Date: 01 October 2021
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
On Thursday, 30 September 2021, the ANC and its Coalition Partners* reported to Council on the Human Settlements Oversight Committee’s deliberations on the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) Unaudited Annual Performance Report and Unaudited Annual Financial Statements for the 2020/2021 Financial Year.
While the Department of Human Settlements Repairs and Maintenance Budget includes the Maintenance of Sethokga Hostel and NCP Hostel, the department has done very little to maintain these hostels.
The slow pace of maintenance in Ekurhuleni Hostels and Rental Housing Stock has been an extremely pressing issue. For years now, Ekurhuleni hostel dwellers have been forced to live in inhumane and unhygienic living conditions; their daily living experience is that of dilapidation and squalor. The ANC-led coalition has neglected these residents as they continue to overlook their appalling living conditions.
Furthermore, the situation at Sethokga has become immensely volatile owing to the illegal occupants. When the Department of Human Settlements was asked for an update on the advances made in evicting illegal occupants from Sethokga Hostel, they indicated that the Court granted it an eviction order, but it is unable to execute it due to community resistance and unavailability of alternative accommodation.
The CoE’s failure to act on an eviction order displays incompetence and a lack of leadership. To add insult to injury, the department’s lack of urgency towards evicting illegal occupants has motivated people to invade other projects such as Tsakane Extensions 22 & 23, and Clayville Ext 45.
The ANC appointed MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr. Lesiba Mpya, has been sleeping like a log for the past five years, as the situation has worsened under his leadership. Most housing developments in the City have been hijacked by illegal occupants, further disadvantaging the rightful and deserving beneficiaries.
It is obvious that the ANC and its coalition partners do not have any political will to transform Ekurhuleni hostels into habitable spaces for individuals and families to stay in. The poor planning, bad governance, and maladministration have been the order of the day under the incumbent administration, and Ekurhuleni residents deserve better!
The residents of Ekurhuleni deserve a well-run government that delivers basic services and provides a healthy and safe environment. A DA-run Ekurhuleni will be committed and determined to deliver on the basic rights of residents by ensuring effective and responsive service delivery and prioritise the regular maintenance and refurbishment of municipal infrastructure. Furthermore, we will take principled legal action to prevent and stop illegal land invasions and the unlawful occupation of Council-owned housing stock.
#Time4Change
*ANC Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)
Cllr. Tebogo Masenya
DA Shadow MMC for Infrastructure Services in Ekurhuleni
