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Durban hostels are 'appalling'

WASHBASIN: Hostel dwellers recently marched in Durban against living conditions and increased rentals at hostels in the city. Pic. THULI DLAMINI.15/02/2010. © Sowetan.
WASHBASIN: Hostel dwellers recently marched in Durban against living conditions and increased rentals at hostels in the city. Pic. THULI DLAMINI.15/02/2010. © Sowetan.

THE IFP leadership in the eThekwini district yesterday expressed shock at the "appalling conditions" under which thousands of hostel dwellers are still living.

In one instance 16 people share a single room with an overflowing toilet and without running water.

The party visited four hostels in the Durban area - including Thokoza women's hostel, Wema (SJ Smith), Dalton and Seventeen T-section.

Recently thousands of hostel dwellers marched in Durban to demand improved living conditions and to protest against rental hikes.

"The conditions are bad in all these hostels, though in others it is even worse," said IFP leader Joshua Mazibuko

"We have found that about 16 people occupy one room (at Dalton) and one can only imagine the hygienic conditions.

"In Wema we found there is a dam, not created . by rain, but caused by leaking pipes."

The IFP plan to put together a comprehensive report and present it to the municipality on behalf of the hostel dwellers.

"We have kitchens but end up cooking inside our rooms because the kitchens are too dirty . we are against paying rent under these conditions," said Wema resident Zakhele Xulu.

eThekwini municipality speaker James Nxumalo said they were aware of some of the problems in the hostels.

"But I must say that the problems that hostel dwellers complain about are not in the new family units that we're building.

"Also, the influx of people results in sewer pipes failing to cope . that is why we say they must pay rent so that we will be able to provide necessary services."

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