By BAKANG MOKOTO
28 July 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said women and children residing in Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel in Alexandra are living in the most shocking inhumane conditions. The party said sewage frequently clogs the entrances to the dimly lit stairways, creating an unpleasant and hazardous environment.
Da Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Mervyn Cirota said these poorly maintained pathways lead to overcrowded rooms, where residents struggle to navigate their limited space. Cirota there is a visible deterioration of sanitation infrastructure, a lack of water supply in many blocks, and structural damage.
“Zero visible security presence leaves residents vulnerable to crime and abuse. While issues like black mould and unattended broken fire equipment further compromise safety.
“Their growing concerns about inhumane living conditions remain ignored by the cruel Human Settlements Departments in the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Government,” she said.
Cirota further said they demand that all hostels, including the Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel, be included in the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements’ (GDHS) Hostel Redevelopment with the primary purpose of upgrading them into family units. She added that, despite continuous and repetitive undertakings by the MMC for Human Settlements in the City of Johannesburg to attend to the required short-term maintenance and long-term conversion of Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel into family units, its condition continues to worsen.
“These alarming safety and environmental issues were discovered by a DA delegation of national, provincial, and local leaders during an oversight prompted by urgent pleas from the Alexandra community for intervention.
“The disgraceful and inhumane treatment of women and children at this hostel is concerning, but not new. The Alexandra Renewal Project reportedly allocated R17 million for the maintenance and upgrade of this hostel,” said Cirota.
She said yet, there is no visible evidence of any improvements on-site. Cirota said should they be surprised?
“No, this project has been plagued by mismanagement, lack of transparency, and persistent allegations of corruption – all of which are the hallmarks of the current Gauteng Provincial Government.
“Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and MEC Tasneem Motara must heed our call for the immediate incorporation of all Gauteng hostels in the Human Settlements Hostel Redevelopment Plan,” she said.
Cirota said expecting municipalities to upgrade hostels is pointless as they have shown their incapacity to do so for decades. She said the DA will submit formal questions to Parliament and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature demanding transparency on how the funding for the upgrades of Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel was allocated, who was awarded the contracts and why residents remain in squalor while funds go unaccounted for.
“A caring and effective DA-led administration in Gauteng would immediately upgrade existing structures where possible and demolish those that are beyond repair,” said Cirota.
Picture: women and children residing in Helen Joseph Women’s Hostel in Alexandra/Supplied
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