While the City of Johannesburg moves forward with a multi-billion-rand hostel revitalization program, residents of Helen Joseph Hostel in Alexandra say they have been left behind in crumbling, unsafe conditions.
The city, in partnership with the Gauteng provincial government, has launched a project to refurbish five hostels—including Jeppe and Denver—into modern family units. However, Helen Joseph Hostel, home to more than 3,000 women and children, remains in severe disrepair, with residents describing it as a “prison” of neglect.
“I Feel Trapped”: Life Inside a Crumbling Hostel
Stagnant sewage clogs entrances, dark stairways go uncleaned, and broken windows are patched with tattered election posters—a desperate attempt to shield against the winter cold. For the women living here, each day is a struggle against unbearable conditions.
“I feel free when I step out of this building. The moment I step back in, I get stressed. The living conditions are unbearable,” one resident said. “The passage stinks so much. It’s terrible to live in Helen Joseph.”
Another woman, her voice thick with frustration, recalled the hostel’s former pride. “We used to take pride living in this building. Today, I feel trapped.”
“Until When Will We Be Neglected?”
Residents accuse the government of overlooking them in favor of male-dominated hostels. “It is painful to see our government neglect women like this,” one woman said. “All the articles mention other hostels—George, Madala, Diepkloof—but Helen Joseph is not even mentioned. Does it not exist in their minds?”
The MMC for Human Settlements has promised interventions, stating that Johannesburg Water has been appointed to address sewage and water supply issues by November. But for many, this is just another in a long line of unfulfilled promises.
“We Need Action, Not Dialogue”
Frustration has reached a breaking point. “Many promises have been made. I don’t think there will be any change,” a resident said. “We don’t need dialogue. We need action. We are dying of hunger, dying of sewage. Dialogue won’t change our situation.”
As the city moves forward with its revitalization plan, Helen Joseph Hostel stands as a stark reminder of broken promises and systemic neglect. For the women and children living there, the question remains: How long must they wait before someone listens?
