Gugulethu hostel residents say years of sewage and broken toilets have left them living in unsafe conditions

Three hostels in Gugulethu, South Africa, have faced years of poor living conditions, with residents facing leaking roofs, broken toilets, blocked drains, and sewage pooling outside their homes. The City of Cape Town has made promises to address these issues, but residents claim that the promised improvements have not materialized.

At Nobantu hostel, stagnant dirty water from communal toilets pools outside residents’ homes, adding to the unpleasant stench caused by blocked drains. Mtshutshisi Lise, a resident and hostel chairperson, described the living conditions as inhumane, stating that people are sick and have been stuck with filthy toilets since 2010.

Despite repeated complaints to authorities, the residents are still waiting for the necessary actions to be taken. At Dairy Belle hostel, residents have been without functioning toilets for years, relying on facilities at a nearby location. This situation poses challenges for families with children, as they are forced to relieve themselves on the floor when the toilets are locked.

Similarly, at Dura hostel, residents have been living with deteriorating conditions for 20 years, with the building's windows broken, toilets filled with water, and the roof leaking since 2019. Residents have reported these issues to the City, but have not seen the promised improvements. Another resident, Rudzani, accused the City of only repairing parts of the hostel, leaving other sections in poor condition.

He also alleged that a child drowned in a drain at the hostel two years ago, and the drain has still not been closed. The residents' accounts reflect broader concerns about sanitation and infrastructure in parts of Cape Town, with the City acknowledging that hostel upgrades and repairs are scheduled for this financial year, but funding remains the primary constraint to implementing the broader transformation programme.