The relocation of residents from Fleurhof Hostel to Ext 21 units has quickly turned chaotic, with some residents claiming they have been left displaced and forced to share accommodation with strangers.

Residents were moved to the units on May 22, following the demolition of Fleurhof Hostel.

The MMC for Human Settlements, Councillor Mlungisi Mabaso, said the demolition was necessary as the City of Johannesburg intends to develop proper mixed housing on the site to benefit qualifying residents on the City’s housing waiting list.

However, during a recent visit by the Roodepoort Record to Ext 21, residents voiced concerns about sharing of units with strangers, a lack of basic services and uncertainty regarding ownership of the units.

Also read: 135 families moved as Fleurhof hostel faces demolition

According to resident Sipho Mtshali, the allocation process has resulted in multiple people being assigned to the same unit, forcing unrelated individuals to share living spaces. He said they were completely unaware, and they never informed them that they were going to share.

“There are some of us who received allocation receipts, but we have had to accommodate other people who were displaced and had nowhere else to go. In some units, you find three people with allocation receipts, all claiming the same flat. They are now being forced to live together.”

Mtshali said the situation has created significant challenges relating to privacy and dignity, particularly for women and children.

He said that while the living conditions at the hostel were poor, they at least had privacy and dignity.

“There is an elderly woman who is sharing a flat with three men she does not know. In other units, six to eight people live together. Some might know each other from the hostel, but they are not related,” Mtshali added.

Resident Luthando Mthana said some of the units lack basic services such as electricity, running water and proper geysers. He said there are no plugs or electrical boxes, forcing residents to rely on others for cooking.

“When I open my bathroom tap, the entire area floods. We are also told that after six months, we will be expected to pay rent. Most of us are unemployed. How will we afford this?” he asked.

Other residents said they lost some of their belongings during the relocation, alleging that the move was rushed and they were not given enough time to pack.

Also read: Fleurhof residents occupy flats illegally

Ward 70 Clr Caleb Finn said, according to his understanding, this is a temporary emergency accommodation provided by the City.

“There are two rooms in each unit, and they were meant to allocate one household per room.

“Regarding water and electricity, I was made aware of some issues last week, and I requested the developer to send maintenance teams to deal with them. I was advised that it had been sorted out.

“I have not received any further reports of issues since then,” said Finn.

Questions regarding the sharing of living spaces, ownership of the units, maintenance responsibilities, and who will ultimately be responsible for paying for the units, given that residents are currently occupying them rent-free, were submitted to Mabaso’s office.

However, no response had been received by the time of publication.