A decade after the Gauteng provincial government launched an ambitious plan to revitalize dilapidated hostels and convert them into family-friendly housing units, the project has made minimal progress due to poor planning, budget constraints, and stakeholder disputes.
In 2014, the Human Settlements Department pledged to refurbish aging hostels, many of which remain overcrowded and in disrepair. However, with over 1.2 million people on the housing waiting list and allegations of misused housing grants, frustration among residents has grown.
Slow Progress and Structural Challenges
During a site visit to one of Johannesburg’s hostels, MEC for Human Settlements Tasmin Matara acknowledged the delays, citing structural issues, sewer and electrical upgrades, and the need for extensive renovations.
“These hostels are really old, overcrowded, and were built for a different purpose,” Matara said. “We have a responsibility, not just as owners but from a human rights perspective, to restore dignity through proper housing.”
The provincial government currently owns six hostels in Johannesburg’s CBD, with contractors appointed to work on five. A sixth contractor was recently assigned, but the project remains multi-year, with no clear completion timeline.
Stakeholder Disputes and Funding Shortages
Matara admitted that past mismanagement of stakeholder engagement contributed to delays, as hostel residents initially resisted converting single-sex dormitories into family units. Additionally, relocating residents during renovations has proven costly.
“For any work to be done, we must accommodate people elsewhere, which comes at a cost,” she explained. “The money we receive from national grants doesn’t meet the demand.”
Gauteng relies on national housing grants, which are insufficient to address the massive backlog. With new registrations for government-subsidized housing increasing daily, Matara linked the crisis to broader economic struggles, stating that many residents have no alternative but to depend on state housing.
Broken Promises and Future Plans
Despite past failures, the MEC insisted that the revitalisation project would continue, with the City of Johannesburg approving a new hostel redevelopment strategy. However, with no significant progress in ten years, skepticism remains high among residents.
As Gauteng grapples with one of the country’s worst housing crises, the provincial government’s ability to deliver on its promises—amid budget cuts and rising demand—will be closely watched.
For now, thousands of hostel dwellers continue to live in deteriorating conditions, waiting for the dignified housing they were promised over a decade ago.
