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Alexandra (sometimes nicknamed "Alex") is a township located in Gauteng province, South Africa. In South Africa, the term Township usually refers to the (often underdeveloped urban living areas that under Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites Gauteng (xaʊˈtɛŋ Sotho xɑ́útʼèŋ̀ is a province of South Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa It is situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg, close to the wealthy suburb of Sandton and is bounded by Wynberg on the west, Marlboro and Kelvin on the north, and Kew, Lombardy West and Lombardy East on the south. Johannesburg ( Pronounced /jō-hān'ĭs-bûrg'/ is the largest city in South Africa. Sandton is a town in the northern part of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, South Africa Wynberg is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3. Marlboro is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3. Kew is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3. In contrast, Alexandra is one of the poorest urban areas in the country.

Alexandra is situated on the banks of the Jukskei River. The Jukskei River is one of the largest Rivers in Johannesburg, South Africa. The township covers an area of more than 8 km² and has an estimated population of 470,000 people. In addition to its original, reasonably well-built houses, it also has a large number (estimated at more than 20,000) of informal dwellings or "shacks". Shanty towns (also called Squatter camps or Favelas are settlements (sometimes illegal or unauthorized of impoverished people who live in improvised

History

Alexandra was established in 1912, on land originally owned by a farmer, a Mr. See also 1911 in South Africa, other events of 1912, 1913 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. Papenfus, who tried to establish a white residential township there, naming it after his wife, Alexandra. However, because it was (at the time) a considerable distance from the center of Johannesburg, this was not a great success.

Consequently, in 1912, Alexandra was proclaimed as a so-called "native township". Because the township was proclaimed prior to the South African 1913 Land Act, it was one of the few urban areas in the country where black people could own land under a freehold title. See also 1912 in South Africa, other events of 1913, 1914 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. The Natives' Land of 1913 was an Act by the South African legislature aimed at regulating the acquisition of land by "natives" Fee simple is an estate in land in Common law. It is the most common way Real estate is owned in common law countries and is ordinarily the most

By 1916, the population of Alexandra had grown to 30,000 people and thus the Alexandra Health Committee was established to manage the township. See also 1915 in South Africa, other events of 1916, 1917 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. However, the Committee was not allowed to collect local taxes, nor was the Johannesburg City Council willing to take responsibility for an area that it claimed fell outside its jurisdiction, leading to a lack of resources and proper management.

When the National Party came into power in 1948 and started to implement its policy of apartheid, Alexandra was put under the direct control of the then Department of Native Affairs. The National Party ( Afrikaans: Nasionale Party) (with its members sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats) was the governing party of See also 1947 in South Africa, other events of 1948, 1949 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. The government's main aims for "dealing with" Alexandra were the reduction of the population, the control of movement into the area and the expropriation of freehold property. However, unlike many black freehold areas such as Sophiatown, it was never the intention of the government to remove blacks from Alexandra entirely, as it was too valuable as a labour pool to serve Johannesburg. Sophiatown (pronounced with a long stressed i) (also known as Sof'town or Kofifi) is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa Despite this, about 50,000 people were forcibly moved to Tembisa and Soweto. Tembisa is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. Soweto is an urban area in the City of Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa.

In the early 1960s, the government decided to demolish all family accommodation in Alexandra and replace them with single-sex hostels, which led to widespread resistance and protest. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 However, due to the high costs, lack of alternative housing for the persons that would have to have been removed and the escalating opposition led by the Rev Sam Buti's Save Alexandra Party, only two hostels were actually completed, and so the scheme was cancelled in 1979. See also 1978 in South Africa, other events of 1979, 1980 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

The riots that started in Soweto in June 1976 quickly spread to other areas such as Alexandra, where 19 people were killed. See also 1975 in South Africa, other events of 1976, 1977 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. As a consequence of these riots, the government modified their strategy somewhat. Evictions, forced removals expropriation of black properties were stopped; urban blacks were no longer regarded as temporary residents and their permanent status was recognised.

Finally, in 1982, Alexandra was given the official status of a residential area and the then Alexandra liaison committee, led by Rev Buti, was instituted to run the township. See also 1981 in South Africa, other events of 1982, 1983 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

In 1980 a "Master Plan" for Alexandra was introduced, which aim was to transform Alexandra into a "Garden City" with a completely new layout. See also 1979 in South Africa, other events of 1980, 1981 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. However, only a small part of this plan was actually ever implemented; the execution of the "Master Plan" was permanently stopped by the violent "Alex Six Days" uprising in February 1986, during which 40 people were killed. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) By May the council started collapsing and the councillors resigned which saw the emergence of street committees and peoples' courts. After the imposition of the nationwide state of emergency in June, the Defence Force moved in to keep the peace. In its place, the government introduced the "Urban Renewal Plan" as part of its strategy during the state of emergency. However, this plan lead to considerable demolitions, disruptions and displacement in the community as well as two treason trials involving 13 leaders of Alexandra.

This, combined with the considerable number of additional people moving into Alexandra during this time, led to a new area called the "East Bank" being built.

Because of the insufficient capacity and difficult maintenance of the newly built infrastructure, the situation quickly deteriorated and thus the "Urban Renewal Plan" was shelved in 1990. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

During the communal and political conflicts that took place in the 1991 - 1992 period, many people were killed, injured or displaced. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) This led to several peace initiatives, which were greatly assisted by the first fully democratic South African elections in April 1994. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) It was a source of great pride to the community that Nelson Mandela, a former resident of the community, became the first black president of South Africa. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (xolíɬaɬa mandéːla born 18 July 1918 is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative

In order to assist in renewing and uplift the community, the Alexandra Renewal Project was launced in 2000. The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP, is an Urban renewal project in Alexandra Gauteng, northern Johannesburg, South Africa. Events February Tropical Cyclone Eline brings heavy rains to Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana The project has caused clashes between residents and companies, including SA Waste Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a waste disposal company based in nearby Marlboro. SA Waste Holdings (Pty Ltd is a Waste management company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province Marlboro is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3.

Approximately 3,000 houses have been built for relocation purposes to date.

In May 2008 a series of xenophobic attacks that took place throughout South Africa, started in Alexandra Township, due to a large amount of foreigners (mainly Zimbabweans) living there. Xenophobia is an intense and/or irrational dislike and sometimes fear of people from other countries South Africans living in Alexandra Township said they were tired of foreigners taking their jobs. [1]

Notable residents and ex-residents

Notable residents and ex-residents of Alexandra include:

External links

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