The Gauteng provincial housing department has pledged R85-million towards the development of four hostels in the province, it said in a statement on Sunday.
Provincial housing minister Nomvula Mokonyane held talks with African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters who lived in hostels in the province where a number of protests took place earlier this month.
Recent reports indicated that IFP supporting hostel residents felt that the ANC government were not improving living conditions at hostels due to their political affiliation.
”The problems raised by residents are genuine and already government has developed plans to address them,” she said.
The talks were aimed at finding a ”lasting solution” to the grievances raised by hostel residents about their living conditions and the lack of proper maintenance at some of Gauteng’s hostels.
”The meeting took note of the unacceptable conditions under which hostel residents lived under.
”It was further noted and agreed that development must be for all, hence government’s commitment [to] serve all, irrespective of political affiliation,” the department said.
It was agreed that central to the problem was a lack of communication between the government and hostel residents.
The R85-million will be used to develop hostels in Diepkloof, Meadowlands, Dube and Orlando West.
”The redevelopment process therefore aims to rebuild the communities and integrate current hostel residents into neighbouring communities.” – Sapa