The Gauteng human settlements department has spent at least R500 million on upgrading five hostels, yet residents of these refurbished facilities do not pay rent or for services, with the costs being covered by the provincial government.
The upgrades, which cost roughly R100 million per site, were carried out at the George Goch, Murray and Roberts, MBA, Denver, and Jeppe hostels. Human settlements MEC Tasneem Motara revealed the details during a visit to the inner-city hostels as part of a campaign to monitor service delivery and upgrade progress.
“Most of these hostels were built decades ago and had fallen into a state of disrepair,” Motara said. The projects have involved extensive work on plumbing, stormwater drainage, flooring, and roofing. The scope of work was tailored to each hostel’s design, with some having shared amenities and others comprising separate units.
The upgrades are part of a broader provincial effort to improve living conditions in historically neglected public housing. According to Motara, the process was conducted in consultation with local leaders, including izinduna and ward councillors, who have provided positive feedback.
A more extensive upgrade was undertaken at the Murray hostel, where fire-damaged units required major reconstruction. Residents are expected to move back into these units within the coming week.
Despite the significant investment and ongoing construction, the department says its commitment to restoring dignity in public housing remains its top priority. The projects fall under the provincial government’s township, informal settlements and hostels (TISH) program, which had an allocation of more than R7 billion for infrastructure improvements. Other hostels slated for future upgrades include LTA Rethabile, KwamaSiza, Dube, Orlando, Diepkloof, and Orlando West.