Socio-economic Perspectives in the Redevelopment of Hostels in South Africa: A Case of Wolhuter Hostel, Jeppestown
Date
2020-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
Hostels in the South Africa context are synonymous with the migrant labour system. The dominant feature of these pre-democratic hostels is that they catered for single-sex employees as opposed to worker families. This contributed to the destruction of the social fabric in terms of culture, traditions, and the destruction of the black families at large. In post-democratic South Africa, Hostel accommodation continues to paint a grim picture within our human settlement’s spaces. Socio-economic difficulties manifest themselves in mostly inadequate living conditions or poor housing circumstances that are largely conditioned by the unequal and distorted access to opportunities. To this day, most hostels that are not yet redeveloped or refurbished continue to present images of dirty menacing buildings associated with a public stigma of notoriety. This research study explores socio-economic perspectives in the redevelopment of hostels in South Africa. The study will consist of an interface between theoretical foundations, and empirical evidence. This research, data collection was sourced both from primary and secondary sources. Qualitative investigative methods were used to get an in-depth understanding of the subject. The research follows a case-study approach, that of Wolhuter Hostel, Jeppestown in Gauteng and undertook interviews of sixteen hostel dwellers plus a fucus group discussion. The study makes recommendations on policy reforms such introducing more responsive programmes in human settlements. It is also aimed at introducing an improved approach to the planning and redevelopment of the hostels by strengthening neighbourhood and precinct planning. The study contributes to the understanding and insight on hostels and their redevelopment and considering socio-economic perspectives in human settlements planning and development.
Description
The research study is submitted for a Masters in Built Environment (MBE) in Housing Degree to the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in the School of Architecture and Planning, in 2020.
Keywords
Hostels in South Africa, Wolhuter Hostel, Jeppestown, Gauteng, South Africa, UCTD
Citation
Madonsela, Thando Kwenza. (2020). Socio-economic Perspectives in the Redevelopment of Hostels in South Africa: A Case of Wolhuter Hostel, Jeppestown. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38854