Residents of Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel have expressed mixed reactions to the ongoing multi-million rand sewer reticulation replacement project at the hostel.

The project forms part of the city’s efforts to improve living conditions at the hostel, which has faced sewer blockages, overflows, and deterioration due to decades-old systems that are struggling under an increasing hostel resident population.

Read more: Multi-million rand sewer project tackles ageing infrastructure at Helen Joseph Hostel

While some residents have welcomed the upgrade as a step towards resolving sewage issues, others remain sceptical. A concern raised by several residents centres on the diameter of the new pipes being installed, which they perceive as smaller than the original ones. They worry this could limit the system’s capacity to handle the hostel’s growing wastewater demands in the long term.

However, the project’s community liaison officer, Selina Nkuna, who also resides at the hostel, addressed these concerns, noting that the pipes being used are standard across the city.

“The pipes that are being installed here are those installed across the city. It is not something new here at Helen Joseph.”

Also read: City commits R9m to upgrade sewer infrastructure at Helen Joseph Hostel

Despite the sewer project offering some residents hope, others emphasise that it addresses only one aspect of the hostel’s maintenance crisis. They highlighted ongoing challenges, including leaking roofs, which force upper-floor residents to resort to using buckets during heavy rains. Some cited an inconsistent water supply in certain blocks, forcing people to fetch water from distant sections of the facility. Non-functional sinks in shared areas compound these issues.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: With sewer upgrades underway at the Helen Joseph Hostel, Community Liaison Officer Selina Nkuna says residents must also play their part in caring for the facility. #Alex #Helenjoseph ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Nkuna acknowledged related behavioural challenges arising from the infrastructure failures. “The sinks do not work at all. That is why people end up pouring out wastewater through the windows,” she noted.

She criticised the practice of discarding litter through windows, noting that municipal bins are provided for waste disposal.

While residents have supported the sewer works, most agree that meaningful improvement requires more changes, such as converting the hostel into family units, which would better suit the needs of both the women and children living there.

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