The sanitation, maintenance and security services at the Diepkloof hostel in Soweto have returned to normal.

Residents protested this week after services at the hostel were cut off following the expiry of the contracts for contractors providing the services. Protestors blocked Chris Hani Road, burning tyres and disrupting traffic because the bucket system, which their hostel still depends on, had not been emptied in three months. Police used tear gas to disperse protesting residents after they began baring their bottoms to passing motorists.

MEC for Human Settlements Jacob Mamabolo met with the leadership of the hostel yesterday evening (12 June) and the situation has now been resolved. “We are making internal arrangements to make sure that this problem is never repeated. We have also agreed with the City of Johannesburg to attend to all the issues related to the management of contracts for services being provided at the hostel,” Mamabolo said.

According to SAnews.gov.za, Mamabolo criticised the neglect of the issues raised by residents, insisting that their anger was legitimate and that the protest could have been avoided.

He also thanked the hostel residents for disbanding the protest action in favour of co-operating with government to ensure the matter is resolved.

“We are mindful of the fact that the hostel must be completed and handed over to the City of Johannesburg for the ultimate allocations of beneficiaries. We are committed to working around the clock to complete the project,” Mamabolo said.

The MEC however condemned the vandalism of the new units at Diepkloof hostel. “This act of vandalism has set us back, and will only add to the frustrations and delays in completing the new hostel development,” he said.