JOHANNESBURG'S most famous ghetto, the overcrowded township of Alexandra, is finally getting a facelift. President Thabo Mbeki announced in February that Alexandra is to be redeveloped, after three previous efforts to uplift the township were aborted. The estimated budget for the Alexandra Renewal Project is R1,3-billion over a seven-year period.
Alexandra is on the banks of the Jukskei River. It covers an area of one square mile and is north-east of the city centre. The first phase of the redevelopment is to move some 11 000 residents from the river banks, where they are in danger of flooding every year. They are to be relocated to Bram Fischerville near Roodepoort, and Diepsloot, north of Randburg. This process began in February, amid much controversy as many residents did not wish to be moved.
The township, established in 1912, has a long history of poverty, forced removals and overcrowding. Interestingly, because it was established before the 1913 Land Act, blacks were allowed to own urban land there under freehold title. In 1948, throughout the 1960s and in 1980 there were plans to demolish the houses, rebuild the township and reduce overcrowding by resettling residents elsewhere. These schemes were abandoned soon after they began. It was only after the June 1976 uprising that blacks were recognised as permanent residents in towns and expropriation of properties was halted. Part of the 1980 plan was to take away freehold title from Alexandra residents. Now, in the present project, residents are being encouraged to buy their properties.
The population of Alexandra is estimated at around 350 000, with about 4 000 formal houses and 34 000 shacks. In April 2001 450 delegates representing the private sector, the public sector, community-based organisations, political parties and NGOs, signed a Charter for the Alexandra Renewal Project. In essence the Charter undertakes to make Alexandra a clean, safe, healthy living environment in which existing housing will be upgraded, unemployment will be tackled, and de-densification will occur.
Four key areas will be developed:
- Pan Afrika Square, a Business Improvement District (BID) and private-public sector initiative through which infrastructure will be developed and business opportunities offered to Alexandra residents. The aim is to integrate the BID into the sub-region.
- Riverpark Housing Project, in which 56 000 housing units are to be built. Alexandra residents will be encouraged to own and upgrade their houses.
- Jukskei River Bank Project, involving the relocation of 6 000 residents from the river bank to safer locations. The banks of the river are to be developed into parks and recreation areas, a project that has already begun.
- A school upgrading and development programme in which schools will get science labs, computer centres and sports fields. This programme will include the upgrading of teaching standards and building of new schools.
In addition, the programme hopes to create a culture of civic pride and human dignity; provide basic affordable services that are paid for; and establish a well-administered local government.
Big plans, big project - hopefully Alexandra will finally get to shed the legacy of its impoverished past.
