SJ Smith Hostel

In the 1950s, the SJ Smith Hostel for "single" men was built outside of Lamontville. Hostel or barrack accommodation became one of the symbols of urban apartheid. Barracks were accommodation, owned and provided rent-free by employers whilst hostels were municipal-owned premises which accommodated Native workers of all kinds. The rent for hostels was either paid by the residents or by their employers. Large, often dormitory style buildings were built to cheaply accommodate single, male, migrant workers from rural areas to mines and cities. The hostel system enabled the apartheid government to exploit black African workers whilst also denying them a permanent residency. In the early 1990s, Inkatha undertook a vigorous recruitment drive in township hostels. Until that time, relations between hostel-dwellers and township residents had been cordial. However, this changed after February 1990 when township residents began joining the unbanned ANC. Hostels became Inkatha’s point of entry into the township: all hostel residents were compelled to join Inkatha or leave. Inmates were required to attend all functions organised by Inkatha. Hostels became Inkatha strongholds and no-go zones for township residents. Strangers entering the hostels were frequently suspected of being from the township and were killed. On the other hand, the townships were identified as ANC strongholds and were no-go zones for the hostel-dwellers. Hostel- dwellers travelling through the township to get to and from the hostel were frequently attacked by township youth. There were fights between the Inkatha-supporting hostel dwellers from the SJ Smith Hostel and Lamontville township residents.