Residents of Khutsong Hostel are calling for urgent intervention from the Merafong Local Municipality, citing deplorable living conditions, including a lack of electricity, unreliable water supply, and unsafe illegal electrical connections.
During an interview, Merafong municipality spokesperson Thabo Moloja acknowledged the dire situation but explained that the hostel was officially evacuated in 2019, with qualifying residents relocated to a new development such as Khutsong Extension 6. However, some occupants, including non-qualifying individuals and non-South Africans, remained and later reoccupied the hostel illegally.
A Crisis of Basic Services
Residents currently rely on dangerous illegal electricity connections, with exposed cables posing severe risks, particularly to children. Additionally, vandalism of infrastructure, including a nearby water reservoir, has exacerbated sanitation issues. A sinkhole near the hostel has further compromised living conditions.
Moloja stated that temporary measures, such as water tank deliveries, have been implemented, but these efforts are frequently undermined by vandalism. Eskom, responsible for electricity in the area, had cut power due to non-payment and the hostel’s condemned status.
Municipality’s Response and Ongoing Challenges
Moloja emphasized that the municipality is engaging with provincial authorities to address the crisis. However, legal hurdles, including obtaining an eviction order, have delayed action. He reiterated that the long-term solution involves demolishing the hostel and relocating residents—a process stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing negotiations.
Frustrated residents argue that they have lived in the hostel for decades and demand proper housing, such as RDP homes, if evicted. The municipality maintains that only those meeting housing criteria will qualify for relocation, leaving others in limbo.
As tensions rise over illegal utility connections affecting neighboring communities, the municipality faces mounting pressure to find a sustainable resolution. For now, Khutsong Hostel remains a symbol of South Africa’s broader struggles with housing shortages and service delivery failures.
