Almost two months after a fire tore through parts of a Johannesburg hostel, residents are still living with the resultant damage.

Now, residents believe that the September blaze not only destroyed infrastructure; it exposed the city’s inability to act quickly on basic human needs.

Read more: DA demands inclusion of Madala Hostel in redevelopment programme

Human Settlements official Bongani Shivambu, who was one of the city officials who conducted an oversight visit at Madala hostel on October 21, addressed one of the issues the residents have, the lack of gas. He said that gas supply to the hostel could not be restored until a full pressure test was conducted, and a certificate of compliance (CoC) was issued. He added that he had recently received a report indicating that the current gas pipes at the hostel failed that test. “The pipes are damaged beyond repair and won’t hold any pressure.”

A new pipeline must be installed, but that requires a contractor. In the meantime, residents, who are left without gas, stressed that they will continue to suffer, especially when there is a power outage. While Shivambu acknowledged the need to address the issue speedily, he insisted that safety procedures must be followed. He said, Egoli Gas would only restore supply once they were given the CoC.

The fire also left structural damage. One of the affected floors still has no roof.
Some residents remain hopeful that repairs are on the way, especially with city officials pointing to long-term hostel redevelopment plans. One of the hostel leaders, Praisegod Ngubane, said they have hope that the repairs will be made. “This [repair of the roof] will only be the beginning, and it will serve as an example to show that there is progress at Madala.” He believes the completion of the repairs could clear the way for further developments in the hostel.

Also read: The city is working to accommodate Madala Hostel fire victims

For others, hope is wearing thin. Mthobisi Sokhela, another hostel leader, said residents are growing increasingly frustrated because of the poor living conditions, especially as the nearby emergency containers remain unoccupied.

City officials have confirmed that the mayor wants the containers opened and residents allocated, but no clear timeline has been communicated to residents yet.

Sokhela warned that further delays and broken promises could fuel tensions. “We are avoiding a march, because when the community marches, a lot of things will be damaged, and police will start arresting people. We, as the leaders of the people, don’t want that. We want to resolve these issues amicably.”

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