Social Dynamics in Alexandra in 2006
This article was written in 2006,
and has been kept for those viewers who may be interested in the
changing social dynamics in Alexandra township. For the latest
commentary, please click here.
The present social dynamics in Alexandra are deeply rooted in the
past. At face value, in 2006, Alexandra is enjoying a sustained period of
relative peace with serious crime falling by 40%. This, however,
conceals a tense social undercurrent that needs to be well understood
to avoid provoking new conflict within the area.
Social divisions
A strong sense of social stratification exists. The key distinction is
no longer between ideological enemies but rather between "old" and "new"
residents of Alexandra.
The "old" residents can be defined as those who owned the original
freehold properties and the backyard shacks that over time occupied
the yards.
The "new" residents are either those that
have settled the riverbanks, tributaries, schoolyards and road
reserves, or those that have occupied the neighbouring factories.
Settlements that essentially occupy inappropriate state land are
perceived to be a consequence of the political strategies of the
1980’s. The fact that some of them are now over 20 years
has helped blur the "old" and "new" definitions.
Illegal occupation or exploitation?
Greater suspicion exists against those people who have occupied the
buildings and factories around the periphery of Alexandra. It is widely believed that in the mid 1990s
unscrupulous operators
(including in some cases the factory and commercial property owners
themselves) facilitated the occupation of the factories enabling
greater revenues to be achieved by charging rents for the smallest sub
division.
As confidence in Alexandra and interest in
reopening businesses around Alex increases, greater revenue can be gained by redeveloping these facilities.
Some landowners now wish to regain their buildings by simply evicting
the residents to make way for development. The Alexandra community is highly suspicious of this process. A strong
belief exists that these households will jump the housing queue
because they are being evicted. They argue the factories were
illegally occupied and to re-house such households in preference
simply rewards illegal invasion without placing any responsibility on
the slumlords that have profited over the years.
This dilemma poses a major challenge to the Alexandra Renewal
Project.
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