The housing challenge in Alexandra will partly be resolved through a collaborative effort of councillors working with city officials.
This was said by Feziwe Ntshinga Makoro, region E director, when she outlined problems inhibiting the provision of basic services to the residents. Makoro said some of the challenges were out of control compared to other areas [regions] where it was easier to provide basic services like water and electricity.
She said Alexandra had been designed for a fraction of its current population, which was still growing as more people tracked to the area seeking employment or wanting to get into the housing queue of the renewal project under the Joburg Development Agency. “The overpopulation and illegal connections are putting pressure on, and damaging, the already old and limited infrastructure including sewage, water and electricity.
She said the area lacked a sense of community and there was no control, resulting in a culture of condemning council for all the wrongs even when officials try to effect bylaws in their interest. This she said in reference to the illegal shacks, which continue to mushroom on the servitude making it difficult for the city’s maintenance teams to do any repair work or to upgrade the service mains.
Makoro said they were working on establishing a regional response unit to establish some control, especially on the construction of illegal structures and shacks. She said the unit will be a collaboration of council departments and will have some power to act against contraventions of building bylaws, and strengthen the city’s reaction to illegal constructions and connections. The community will also be provided a toll-free number to alert the unit when such structures were seen emerging. Also, a campaign including the use of local media will be conducted in advance to create awareness of the unit’s role and to seek partnership with the residents.
Meanwhile, she urged councillors to warn the public on the risks and dangers of residing in illegal structures like drowning in flood prone areas and injuries from motor vehicles ploughing into shacks next to roads.
Details: City of Joburg, Region E; 011 582 1755
