Shelela hostel falling to pieces
Disgruntled residents of Shelela hostel in Skhila said they are tired of waiting for what they call empty promises made by Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
SKHILA – They complained about living without electricity, raw sewage leaks, and water leaks all over that are unbearable and toilets that are not user-friendly. They also accuse the ward councillor and ward committee members of not being active and not engaging with the community to discuss issues that affect the community and must be brought under the municipality’s attention.
A container, used as a living space, was burned to ashes when a resident was boiling water using a paraffin stove. Residents complained that this occurs due to the lack of electricity, forcing them to use paraffin stoves, candles, and wood as a source of energy.
Residents told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that they invaded the space illegally, but for a reason. They could not allow people to steal and vandalise the hostel, therefore, they decided to move in after Everest Mine workers left the premises. Everest Mine closed down in 2012.
It is alleged that geysers, electrical circuits, copper wires, kitchen equipment, toilet buckets, and some living containers were stolen, and the transformer that supplied electricity in the village was damaged and parts were stolen.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News engaged with the municipality after rumours circulated that mining companies had bought the hostel and people were required to evacuate it. TCLM’s communications manager, Themba Sibiya, said in a media statement that it is not true that mining companies had bought the hostel. The municipality said the hostel has been invaded and in some cases vandalised.
Electricity will be restored to the hostel as soon the municipality is able to secure revenue through the installation of kiosks and smart meters which is currently rejected by the community.
According to Sibiya there is limitations to the preventative sewer maintenance and general maintenance due to insufficient funds. Such projects are prioritised in the formal areas where revenue is realised.
Upgrading of the ageing bulk infrastructure is currently being prioritised. The municipality says requests have been submitted to the provincial government to convert the Mashishing, Shelela, and Simile hostels into community residential units in line with the human settlement objectives.
To date, Simile Hostel in Sabie has been approved and the project is undertaken.
Sibiya stated that communication was made to the occupiers to visit the local human settlement municipal offices to formally sign leases. No occupants have come forward to date.
