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Mamelodi hostel residents say they have lost hope before elections

Published

Residents of Mamelodi hostels, including Kingsley Hostel, describe broken windows, sewage leaks and no electricity. Voters go to the Local Government Elections in less than two weeks, and some say the government has failed them.

Residents say the hostels are in poor condition and that drugs are a problem. One Kingsley Hostel resident, who did not give a name, said: "I don’t feel free living here. It’s bad. This whole hostel smells like human waste. I’m not comfortable."

Residents also say crime is a major concern in Mamelodi, a township in Tshwane, Gauteng. Police stations in the area rank high on the Gauteng list of reports for sexual offences, hijackings and robberies. Some residents say the government has failed to deal with crime.

Resident Rider Matabane said drug addicts vandalise municipal infrastructure for quick cash. He said they are the reason contact crimes are so high in Mamelodi. He also said the government has turned a blind eye to the crime in the community.

Key facts

Who
Rider Matabane (Mamelodi hostel resident); 702 (radio station hosting the City of Tshwane mayoral debate); Eyewitness News (outlet that reported from Mamelodi)
What
Residents of Mamelodi hostels, including the Kingsley Hostel, describe dilapidated conditions, sewage and drug-related problems, and say they feel hopeless. Residents also say crime is a major concern in the township, with police stations ranking high on Gauteng's list of reports for sexual offences, hijackings and robberies.
When
22 October 2026
Where
Mamelodi, Tshwane, Gauteng
Status
Reported

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