A multi-million rand infrastructure project has been launched at the Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel, raising hopes for an end to years of severe neglect and hazardous living conditions, though residents remain wary of past broken promises.
The City of Johannesburg has initiated a R9-million sewer system replacement project aimed at fixing the hostel’s crumbling external pipelines and restoring basic sanitation. The announcement was confirmed by a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure Services during a visit to the facility.
For years, residents have described the hostel as a nightmare, a place meant to be a refuge that has instead been marred by leaking sewage, crumbling infrastructure, and unbearable living conditions. The problems, however, extend far beyond faulty plumbing.
“We are happy the emergency contract is coming over, but then our problems are not yet fixed,” one resident stated, highlighting a list of urgent security and social issues. She pointed to broken windows that cannot close, making the building accessible to intruders.
“There are small boys coming from outside… smoking drugs. It’s very, very dangerous and we are staying with kids here,” she said, detailing how the lack of security has led to robberies inside residents’ rooms.
Overcrowding presents another critical challenge, with residents reporting that rooms are shared by up to eight or nine people. This has created a severe lack of privacy, with teenage boys living alongside women in the designated women’s hostel. “Now as a woman sharing, what about your privacy? Sharing with a teenage boy,” the resident questioned.
While the sewer project is expected to create short-term job opportunities, some residents are sceptical about the transparency of the hiring process. One resident expressed concern that the employment would not be fair, alleging a practice of “cadre deployment.”
“Even though you put your CV there, the chances that you will never be hired [are high], reason being… the comrades will go and take out the names of the people that they know from their own political parties,” the resident claimed.
Further doubts were raised about the project’s governance, with the resident noting, “There’s no project steering committee on that project. So, I’m a little bit worried.”
The R9-million investment represents the first significant intervention by the city in years for the hostel’s residents. While it is seen as a glimmer of hope and a potential step toward restoring dignity, the community is watching closely, hoping this project will not become another in a long chain of failed initiatives. For now, the question of whether this multi-million rand project will truly transform life at the Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel remains unanswered.