Alexandra Township: Status in the Year 2000
What was the situation in Alexandra in 2000, prior to the start of
the Alexandra Renewal Project? Why was such a Project necessary at all?
The township of Alexandra has a proud but tragic history, which ushered
it into the new century in desperate need of regeneration.
"Alex", as it is commonly called, has a population estimated as approximately
350 000 people squeezed into an area of about 800 hectare. In addition
to its original well-built houses, Alex also had a huge number of informal
dwellings or shacks - estimates range from 34 000 upwards.
With the advent of a democratic government and the repeal of restrictive
apartheid laws, the population of Alexandra has increased dramatically.
People in search of employment in the city have flocked into Alexandra
from rural areas in South Africa and neighbouring countries, dramatically
overloading an infrastructure already under severe strain.
The increasing number of residents, unplanned development and overcrowding
overloaded the infrastructure to the point that water pressure was low
and sewers frequently overflowed. Electricity connections are haphazard
and frequently dangerous.
Congestion in informal settlements, in the hostels and
along the banks of the Jukskei River made living conditions stressful,
unhealthy and dangerous. Children had nowhere to play and health problems
proliferated. High densities made access for maintenance, repairs or assistance
almost impossible in many parts of Alexandra.
The "Dark City", as Alexandra was known, was in dire
need of the new age of renewal, hope, upliftment and light that the Alexandra
Renewal Project aims to bring to it.
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