Lesufi says refurbishing all Gauteng hostels would bankrupt province

By Akani Nkuna

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has warned that refurbishing every hostel across the province would financially cripple the provincial government, saying it would be more viable to select one hostel per corridor for upgrades.

“We have spent a lot of money across all five municipalities and we have to balance with the demands of society. To take all municipalities, it will be extremely difficult. We can pick one per corridor,” he said.

“We can pick one per corridor and see if we can at least improve them. But to take all of them, no, it is going to bankrupt the provincial government because the costs are humongous.”

Lesufi was speaking to media during a site visit to Johannesburg’s Inner City George Goch Hostel on Wednesday. The visit forms part of efforts to restore dignity and improve living conditions under government’s Hostel Revitalisation Programme.

He said refurbishments include water