 Alexandra
Township gets a R90 million boost
The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing MEC Mr
Humphrey Mmemezi is elated that his department’s flagship programme,
the Alexandra Renewal Project has received the much needed injection
of R90 million.
The announcement of the allocation of the R90 million was made
during a budget speech by Mmemezi’s counterpart, Finance MEC Mandla
Nkomfe, on Tuesday. The Alexandra Renewal Project whose aim is to
rehabilitate this one old township continues to see the construction
of housing projects of different typologies as well as major social
and economic infrastructure upgrades.
Since the programme’s inception whose focus has been on this one
strategic area of Gauteng, the programme has also seen the upgrading
of roads, the building of pedestrian bridges, the rehabilitation of
the Jukskei River banks, the creation of parks, gardens and the
development of the Alexandra Police Station.
The MEC said the programme is gradually showing visible gains for the
community of Alexandra. “One such good thing is that with the recent
floods, people living near the Jukskei River were not as badly
affected as compared to previous years”, the MEC said.
He continued: “people are no longer occupying the open space along the
Jukskei River, which saw the mushrooming of Stwetla, a squatter camp.
These people are being relocated to other housing developments
nearby”. The MEC urges community leaders and the community at large to
make sure that empty spaces left by those who have since been
allocated houses remains empty.
“This would ensure that we are able to deal with the backlog in the
township as well as minimize financial strain on the department. But
most importantly it will arrest the behaviour of some community
members who take advantage of the allocation process in Alexandra”,
Mmemezi.
Though the Pan African Development, hostels, clinics and other
infrastructure related projects have undergone either facelift or
construction, the MEC said the R90 million allocation would assist in
completing other outstanding projects.
Alexandra like some of the oldest townships, has for years faced
social and economic neglect. And the renewal programme has over the
past few years prioritise high impact economic and social
infrastructure upgrades and development such as roads, transport,
housing and bulk infrastructure as well as local economic development.
Issued by the Gauteng Department of Local Government
and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government. For more information
contact Motsamai Motlhaolwa at 079 897 2240 and Eddie Mokoena on 083
602 5652
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