Residents of the Helen Joseph women’s hostel in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, are expressing their fears for personal safety due to a surge in incidents of rape and robbery. The community reports feeling increasingly vulnerable, with many residents claiming they have been attacked at night by intruders.
In addition to concerns about safety, the living conditions at the hostel have become intolerable. Residents are facing issues such as overflowing sewage, broken windows, and leaking roofs, which contribute to an overall deteriorating environment.
Despite years of complaints to the City of Johannesburg, residents feel their grievances have gone largely ignored. Selinah Nkuna, a resident, stated, “We have a problem with crime. We are being attacked at night. There are men who knock at our rooms, and some have even been robbed. Years ago, there was an old woman who was raped and killed. As members of the Helen Joseph women’s hostel community, we feel the municipality doesn’t care about us. What they care about is collecting our budget and doing their own staff.”
The residents are calling for urgent action from local authorities to address both the rising crime rates and the inadequate living conditions at the hostel.