August 23, 2002
By Tendai Dhliwayo
A SATELLITE dish perches on the red tiled roof overlooking the magnificent block of flats down the hill. Surrounding the house are high walls and tight security, typical of Johannesburg’s posh suburb. On the verges, the lawn and trees are expertly manicured. The owner eventually emerges from behind the double garage. This is house number 67, Phase 1, Alexandra Township.
Alexandra and Soweto are among the townships that will host delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The two areas, perceived by many as ghettoes, have another, less publicised side: some of the streets look as if they were plucked straight out of neighbouring Sandton. What residents of the two townships hope to do is showcase their hospitality.
Moipone Mkalipe, Alexandra resident
Moipone Mkalipe is one Alexandra resident who has opened up her household to the delegates. Mkalipe is all smiles, respectful and elegant - South African style. She ushers us into her plush living room.
"People have a negative attitude of Alexandra. They only think of crime, hijackings and robberies. But we carry on our normal lives", she says.
According to her, the Summit will offer "an opportunity for Alexandra to show the world that we are not bad. We can take good care of people". She is letting out three of her five bedrooms and an outside self-contained flat with its own bedroom, shower and bathroom.
At the Mkalipe household, guests will have access to the TV room with DSTV, use of the kitchen and lounge. To top it all off is the use of a fax machine, Internet and telephone. "We have a vehicle and we are flexible. If guests don’t want to use transport services provided by Jowsco (the Johannesburg World Summit Company), we can drive them around to wherever they want to go", says Mkalipe.
Entrance to Moipone Mkalipe's home in Alexandra
"We are here to prepare food
that guests want. We have our own vegetable garden with a variety of vegetables. We can pick fresh vegetables and guests can enjoy a variety of food."
She is happy that four delegates have confirmed they will be moving in. One group will be staying for five days and the other will take 10 days. Her house, which falls under grade C (according to South African Grading Council assessments), will fetch around R800 to R1 200 per day.
The household grades range from grade A onwards. "We follow the SA Grading Council procedures. As an accredited South African host we are graded accordingly. Then we’re told we fall under a certain grade", says Mkalipe.
Mkalipe is upbeat that Alexandra is set for greater things and the Alexandra Renewal Project will help. "We want to show South Africa and the world what we can offer so that tourists can come to Alexandra, be safe and enjoy."
There is repainting of flats being done by the Alexandra community and infrastructure is
being developed. "We want to bring people to Alexandra and show them we are there. It’s a process but we are getting there."
"Alexandra is ideally situated. It is only 15 minutes to the airport, 10 minutes to Sandton and 10 minutes to Rosebank", she says.
She regrets the negative image Alexandra is getting from the media. "Positive things happen here but they don’t get reported on. We are not all crooks and thieves."
Rebecca Manemedi, Soweto resident
To the west of Johannesburg in Soweto is the suburb of Diepkloof, where the Manemedi family is upbeat and thoroughly prepared for the big occasion.
Their upmarket house is spick and span. The lush green lawn and trees are carefully tended. Inside the commodious house, yellow leather couches are well arranged and classical music
is soothingly emanating from the family hi-fi. The house is elegantly tiled and carpeted.
"We want to help our country. The economy is down. This is one way of creating jobs and eradicating poverty", says Rebecca Manemedi.
The Manemedis say they want to interact with people from other countries and cultures. Two bedrooms have been reserved for the delegates. They expect that this could fetch about R1 500 per day. Delegates will also use the living room and have access to the family computer. Transport is also offered if the delegates want to move around.
Manemedi, who stays with her husband and daughter, says: "People should feel at home. They are so far away from their homes. We should make them happy."
"For one day, delegates will have to taste our traditional dishes. They have a choice of telling us what they want to eat and we will prepare that. I think we must not frustrate people because when we go overseas we get South African food."
The family
is not new to hosting delegates. In 1995, two American bishops and their secretaries stayed in their house. The bishops, they say, were so impressed that on their second visit to South Africa they stayed with the family again.
Courtesy of SouthAfrica.info
