 Alex residents get homes
The Alexandra Extension 7 housing project was launched by
handing over title deeds to 60 residents, who now have homes of their
own. Hundreds more are set to benefit.
DESPITE the choking heat, the huge white tent was brimful and
people spilled out on to the Alexandra Altrek Sports Ground, waiting
in anticipation for Joburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, Gauteng
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa and the Gauteng MEC for housing, Nomvula
Mokonyane, to appear.
It seemed like the whole of Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg,
had turned up to witness the launch of the Extension 7 housing project
and the handing over of title deeds to residents on Saturday, 18
February.
Eventually, a burst of song from a group of women wearing yellow and
black T-shirts pierced the stifling heat, signalled the arrival of the
mayor and the beginning of an historical moment in the lives of some
Alexandra residents.
"This is an important occasion for the township. Today we will be
handing over 60 title deeds to Alex residents and launching the
Alexandra Extension 7 project, the first of a series of housing
projects aimed at resolving the housing crisis," said Masondo during
his opening speech.
He said in the last meeting between Alex residents and Gauteng and
City officials late in 2005, Alex residents had made it clear that the
provision of housing had to be accelerated.
"The City and the provincial housing department are aware of these
issues and together with the community we will continue to seek
innovative ways and appropriate interventions. In order to make things
happen, we have to impose a moratorium on the sale of land to private
developers on well-located land and adhere to the 1996-1997 housing
list."
In addition to the Extension 7 housing project, the second housing
project at Alexandra Extension 5 has started and the third project,
K206, will begin shortly. "These new projects will take on this
challenge of providing good, high density living environments,"
Masondo said.
The Extension 7 housing project would provide 1 400 housing units and
it would increase the density (the number of people benefiting) from
under 40 houses per hectare to 75 houses per hectare. But this was
still not enough, according to Masondo. The City had to find ways to
procure more land.
Some land has been identified to cater for the needs of the township.
These are three infill sites close to Alex, namely Portion 31
Zandfontein, erf 54 to 57 Kelvin and erf Edenberg. These sites will be
used for mixed-income housing developments that will include "mixed
tenure" options.
In addition to providing housing for hundreds of Alex residents, the
Extension 7 housing project has created employment for 300 residents.
About 600 people had been trained in construction, the majority of
whom were now employed by construction companies in Joburg, Masondo
said.
Taking to the stage, Shilowa said there were still too many people
living in shacks and backyard shacks in Alex. In response to grumbling
from the crowd, he said the Alexandra Renewal Project would take seven
years and not every Alex resident could be catered for within a short
space of time.
"Last year I promised you that the project would be completed in seven
years and I stand by my promise that people will be properly
accommodated within this period."
Shilowa said there were stumbling blocks to achieving the goal of
providing accommodation for all in Alex. "People from afar hear that
there is development in Alex and they have come in droves to the
township, greatly exacerbating the overcrowding problem. That is why I
cannot finish the project."
Shilowa added: "Unemployment is rife and a barrier to development. But
there are efforts to create employment opportunities because by the
end of March a call centre will be opening in Wynberg and matriculants
from Alex will, hopefully, be gainfully employed."
The construction of the Gautrain would also provide much-needed
employment opportunities for Alex residents because construction work
would take place close to the township, he added.
After the speeches it was time to hand over the title deeds to their
homes to residents – and ululations and much joy was heard when
Masondo and Shilowa gave the proud recipients their papers.
After the handing-over ceremony, Masondo and Shilowa, accompanied by
Mokonyane, went on a tour of Extension 7, where a Reconstruction and
Development Programme house was handed over to an ecstatic new owner,
Dolly Mdhluli.
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