A massive and exciting renewal programme awaits Alexandra soon after the completion of the restoration process for title deeds.
This was said by Secretary general of the Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (Alpoa), Jacky Segopa in an interview with Alex News following the commencement of a government initiative to restore title deeds usurped by the apartheid government in the ’70s.
Segopa said “a proper and meaningful” renewal of the township will commence once the last title deed was restored to the last claimant of the members of Alpoa.
He said they had plans up their sleeves that Alpoa initiated and unveiled to its members a year ago, in partnership with the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Parktown architects, Sarah Calburn Architects. “This project should go a long way towards flushing out the decay that now characterises Alexandra,” he said.
Segopa said when their forebears used to run Alex from a shoestring budget, the township was spick and span. Residents used to compete to ensure their yards were always kept spotless, their stoeps always shiny, and that rubbish was always neatly tucked away for the garbage collectors, he said.
Today he added, Alexandra had become synonymous with filth and had seen the arrival of rats the size of cats.
According to Segopa the plan involves teaming up with the private sector, banks, government departments and the City of Johannesburg, to help members of Alpoa access the necessary monetary help and assistance they need in their efforts to upgrade their homes.
“We are prepared to partner with the state and other public and private institutions to consolidate a workable solution for the renewal of Alexandra. We will lobby all those who are interested in its re-development to partner with Alpoa to bring back the glory days of the 1930s to the ’60s when the township was tip-top and law and order was in abundance,” Segopa said.
