Social dynamics and housing allocations in Alexandra: mid-2008
update
In previous reports the ARP has defined a number of cleavages
within the broader society. While the issues of international
migration had been noted, in May 2008 a new social dynamic hit
Alexandra in the form of xenophobic attacks. It is important to stress
that whilst Alex was seen as the epicenter of the xenophobia, in fact
violence against immigrants had been reported for some months before
this in Tshwane (Pretoria) and from areas of the Western Cape as long
ago as mid-2006.
The violence that erupted locally was intense and concentrated in the
so-called ‘Beirut’ area of Alexandra. An area that during the height
of the political violence that was the precursor to the 1994
democratic elections experienced massive population dislocations as
people either fled from or sought refuge in the area depending on
affiliation.
Despite huge provocation and direct threats the violence never spread
beyond the area where it started except into the new Extension 7 “RDP”
housing project. Not a single shack or house was burnt or attacked
outside of the defined area of Beirut and Ext 7. Although this must
not be seen as undermining the very real fear of attack that people
experienced.
Within Extension 7 the objective of the mob attacks was not clear.
Historically there have always been groupings within Alexandra who
have claimed the right to allocate houses to their members through
invasions in contradiction to the social compacts negotiated between
the ARP and its community and political stakeholders. Given the number
of South Africans displaced it appears to have more to do with house
invasion than with any genuine grievance related to foreigners.
The attacks did, however, bring into Alex a new social dynamic by
“de-integrating” a group of residents who are now referred to as
“foreigners”. While there are no official statistics at hand, best
estimates are that 15% of the residents of Alexandra are in fact not
born in South Africa. This means an estimated 60 000 people living in
Alexandra, many of them long-term residents with roots in the
community with locally-born spouses and children, are now so-called
“foreigners”. Given that approximately 1 000 people in Alex were
displaced by the recent violence or the threat of violence it is clear
that non-South African born people remain part and parcel of the
social fabric. It is also important to note that some ¾ of the
displaced people have returned back to the community except back to
the Beirut area.
These numbers are not mentioned in an attempt to downplay the
seriousness of the situation but rather, together with the following
undramatised account of the events in Alexandra, to assist in
conceptualizing the consequences of the violence:
Allocations
A group of people stormed into the residential area known as
Extension 7, which is a housing project on the Alexandra East Bank
consisting of 1400 RDP (give-away) units. The houses were allocated to
Alex residents who had been obliged to relocate to make way for new
developments undertaken by the Alexandra Renewal Project in their
respective areas. The majority of people allocated housing were
displaced by road construction, the upgrading of school grounds, or
from shacks on the site of a new bridge being built across the Jukskei
River. Others have had to move to make way for the installation of
sewers and other infrastructure.
All houses in Ext. 7 were under threat but were protected by a
combination of security forces, including the South African Police
Services, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and private
security companies. Unfortunately 36 households were forcibly evicted
by the mob. The South African Police Services have since conducted
raids on the affected properties, evicted all illegal occupants and
made arrests. A few houses remain empty and will be protected until
the return of their legally allocated occupants. It is important to
note that only 9 of the 36 houses invaded during the violence were
allocated to non-South-African-born residents. But why were they given
houses at all?
In dealing with the issue of relocations and housing allocation the
ARP is bound by the housing code. In this regard chapter 12 of the
code is relevant:
National Housing Program: Housing Assistance in Emergency
Circumstances
A] 12.3 Application of the Program:
12.3.1 Definition of Emergency Housing Circumstances
This Program will apply to emergency situations of exceptional housing
need, such situations being referred to as “Emergencies”, as defined
below:
• live in the way of engineering services or proposed services such
as those for water, sewerage, power, roads or railways, or in reserves
established for any such purposes and who require emergency
assistance;
B] 12.2.2 Principles of the Program
• Assistance under this Programme should wherever possible represent
an initial phase towards a permanent housing solution.
In terms of chapter 2 of the code:
C] A person only qualifies for a housing subsidy if he or she is:
a. Resident: He or she is lawfully resident in South Africa (i.e.
citizen of the Republic of South Africa or in possession of a
permanent resident permit. Certified copies of the relevant
documents must be submitted with the application).
It is important to note that during the allocations process, it is
only after an official document of acceptance from the Gauteng Housing
Department has been received that formally links a name with a site
does the ARP issue a housing allocation letter. The housing allocation
letter serves no purpose other than to inform the person concerned
that their application has met the requirements of the National
Housing Code and that they will be allocated a house.
Inevitably there will be debate on whether or not “foreigners” who
legally have permanent residence status in South Africa should be
assigned RDP houses, but the ARP director, Julian Baskin, will not be
drawn on the subject:
"My department cannot enter into a debate on who is or isn’t a
citizen, or who ‘deserves’ RDP housing. The ARP’s responsibility is to
adhere strictly to the national housing code in allocating houses to
people displaced by new developments.”
The ARP has established effective processes of community verification
to ensure that the people who must be relocated to make way for
development are actually those who are housed. Sadly the further
fragmentation of the community, and the mistrust resulting from the
violence, will complicate the processes necessary to enable new
developments that require community co-operation.
Earlier articles:
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