Shacks are being erected at a site next to Sizwe Hospital in Sandringham posing a serious health hazard.
The City of Joburg has allocated R100 million to revamp the ailing Madala Hostel in Alexandra, according to Democratic Alliance leader in Joburg, Mervyn Cirota.
Cirota, shadow MEC for the Department of Human Settlement in Gauteng, announced this following his oversight visit in Ward 81.
Ward 81 councillor Irene Rugheimer and provincial human settlement shadow MEC, Mervyn Cirota during their visit to the incomplete Riverpark Flats.
The MEC was accompanied by councillor Irene Rugheimer and said the money has been allocated in the 2019/20 financial year budget.
Cirota visited the hostel, the unfinished Riverpark Flats and two vacant lands near Sizwe and Edenvale hospitals.
After visiting the hostel, Cirota said residents of Madala Hostel are tired of empty promises saying their party will take steps to address their situation.
“During our visit to this hostel we were distressed by the appalling and inhumane living conditions that people are exposed to,” said Cirota.
“The infrastructure is old, dilapidated and there is no maintenance. There is a shortage of toilets and bathrooms as both males and females are sharing the same ablution facilities.”
Rugheimer said Sizwe Hospital’s property poses serious problems in that there are squatters on the property.
This property was earmarked for a massive mixed-use development in 2015 but due to community objections, Rugheimer said this project has been on hold.
“In the meantime, the land has not been secured (fenced-off) and we have squatters invading. Should this land ever be developed we will be sitting with an issue to relocate people.
Madala Hostel in Alexandra is earmarked for major development with a budget estimated to be R100 million in the 2019/20 financial year.
“There is no property in Ward 81 to relocate people to. The City does not have any property in the region for housing, neither does the province. The land would have to be secured before any displaced people can be relocated,” said Rugheimer.
The Riverpark Flats are deteriorating while people are desperately waiting and needing housing but they remain incomplete.
The MEC said he will pose the questions during their sitting at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to seek solutions to the problems.
