TZANEEN – The ablution facilities at the Talana hostel near Tzaneen’s industrial area, particularly the communal toilets, pose a major health risk.

During a recent visit by the Herald, only two toilets were available for use. Four toilets were locked and used by people who have claimed the toilets for their own use.

Some toilets do not have doors, and sacks and canvases are used for privacy. Toilets also smell foul, and some are blocked.

The zinc two-roomed homes at the hostel were erected during the Covid-19 pandemic as an initiative of the Limpopo Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) wanting residents to pay for their accommodation.

The houses are in a dilapidated state with the roofs caving in and holes in the walls. Residents say they will not pay for the houses and would rather receive RDP houses.

Talana resident Ronny Mongwe told the Herald they were promised new toilets by Mopani District Municipality (MDM) a few months ago during a community meeting.

The Herald also visited a soccer field used as ablution as residents say they are afraid to walk to the ablution block at night and that it is inconvenient.

Ward 15 Councilor Chrizelle Dreyer said the state of the hostel is concerning. “Talana has numerous challenges. Some of these challenges cannot be solved by local government alone but need intervention from other spheres of government. Interdepartmental intervention is needed to find a way forward to remedy the conditions Talana residents find themselves in,” she said.

Dreyer added that the environmental and health risks alone are worrisome, and she would write to the municipal manager to get MDM to act on the state of the hostel. “The residents will also have to start doing their part in keeping their areas clean and healthy,” she said.

MDM spokesperson Odas Ngobeni said he would respond the promise of new toilets shortly. CoGHSTA was unavailable for comment.