Hostel boys blamed for crime around Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel
While Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel is spared the violent crime seen elsewhere in Alexandra, police say boys living inside are behind robberies and break-ins.
Police in Alexandra say the Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel is not plagued by the murders and shootings common in other hostels, but its calm reputation is being undermined by young men living there who are accused of committing crimes in the area.
Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane, Alexandra Police Station commander, said reports from residents point to housebreakings and unlawful evictions linked to these young men.
Read more: Police say Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel is the least crime-ridden hostel in Alexandra
“At the women’s hostels, we don’t have serious crimes. It is the quietest hostel among them all. But they are having a problem with housebreaking. People are breaking into their houses, and some of them are unlawfully evicted from their homes. That is not allowed. No one has the authority to evict a person,” Ngubane explained.
Also read: Helen Joseph Hostel sewer upgrade falls short of flushing away wider problems
Although the hostel itself has not been scarred by violent incidents, armed robberies around the premises remain a concern. Residents allege that the young men living in the hostel are behind many of these crimes, a claim Ngubane underscored. He added that community patrollers have helped limit crime in the area. “What I am happy about is that they have patrollers who are patrolling in the area,” he noted.
Still, the absence of formal security leaves women vulnerable, especially when returning late at night. Ward 107 councillor Floyd Ngwenya said women are often targeted by the young men from the hostel. “We are hoping that we will receive a special team that will deal with the issues of Helen Joseph. Issues are there,” he said.
Ngwenya urged parents living in the hostel to take responsibility for their children’s behaviour. “It is our responsibility as the community of Alexandra to make sure that we fight crime,” he stressed, adding that parents must reprimand their children when they begin engaging in wrongdoing.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
