​A resident of Kwesini Hostel in Katlehong, who asked to remain anonymous, said government must bring more services to hostels across the province.
He said hostels in Gauteng have serious problems, such as crime, gender-based violence, excessive use of alcohol and drug abuse, and underlying municipal issues such sewer and illegal electricity connections.

“We need MEC (Mbali Hlophe) and Premier (Panyaza Lesufi) to step in and not only listen to our concerns. They must come back and implement,” said the dweller from Kwesini Hostel during a meeting.

Addressing more than one hundred (100) hostel leadership at Kwesini Hostel in Katlehong on Sunday, Gauteng Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, MEC Mbali Hlophe said both the departments will need to assist hostels to establish food gardens to address the issue of food insecurity.

“Premier Panyaza Lesufi said we must also address the issue of drugs, particularly nyaope in our communities and hostels. He said we must work with Community Safety, so that when we take our youth to rehab, they then deal with drug lords,” said Hlophe.
She pleaded with the community to assist by working with government to identify drug lords in communities and hostels.

The Provincial Association of Izinduna, Chairperson, Bab’Ndwandwe added that nyaope was a major concern in hostels.

“These boys are terrorising our communities. They steal items from our households and sell them for a fix. Government must work with Izinduna to fight the scourge of drugs in hostels because law enforcement alone cannot win the battle against drugs,” said Induna of Gauteng Hostels, Bab’Ndwandwe.

The Gauteng Premier has identified Townships, Informal Settlements and Hostels (TISH) as key areas that need urgent government intervention and acceleration of service delivery.