11 April 2008

By Nangamso Mabindla

GOVERNMENT'S project aimed at housing people living in the Alexandra informal settlement in Johannesburg has been extended to accommodate more people.

The Alexandra Renewal Project is one of the key components of the government's approach to addressing the urbanisation and housing challenges in South Africa.

The Gauteng Department of Housing announced that the extension of the project was primarily due to the huge demand of adequate shelter and prolonged land acquisition processes.

MEC Nomvula Mokonyane and the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo convened the Alexandra Renewal Project's Political Steering Committee meeting in Alexandra.

The purpose of the steering committee was to exercise political oversight and decision making on the implementation of the project.

The project was first announced by President Thabo Mbeki eight years ago and is one of eight urban nodes that form part of the South African government's Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme.

The projects aim to change the physical, economic and social environment of the township.

The meeting acknowledged progress that has been registered on the ground and that many projects were at an advanced stage, with more unique housing projects being piloted in Alexandra, said the department.

Masondo and Mokonyane hailed the Alexandra Renewal Project as a success story, given the inroads it made in improving the local community's quality of life.

There are best practices in the project such as community participation and the block by block approach.

With regards to safety, the meeting came up with mechanisms to look into issues of crime prevention.

This will see a development of the Far East Police Station will be prioritised by engaging sister departments - both in the province and nationally.

The department said the meeting resolved that ward councillors should play a larger role in running community awareness programmes to ensure the protection of public facilities.

Communities will be mobilised to prevent any vandalism occurring at these facilities.

Greater Alexandra, overcrowded and beset by problems like poverty and crime, is situated on the banks of the Jukskei River in north eastern Johannesburg.

An estimated 350 000 people live in Alexandra, occupying 8 500 formal houses, 34 000 shacks, three hostel complexes, 2 500 flats and numerous old factories and buildings.

The department has allocated R1.3 billion to house the people Alexandra.

Source: BuaNews.gov.za