| June 2001 |
Unity in action for change in Alexandra
President Thabo Mbeki will join provincial and local government representatives on 9 June 2001 to officially launch the R1.5 billion Alexandra Renewal Project, which will breathe new life into Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg. The mega project, which the president announced in February, is seen as a concrete expression of government's call for unity in action. The launch follows a Summit at which the private sector, community-based organisations, political groups and non-governmental organisations joined the three spheres of government in signing the Alexandra Renewal Project Charter, committing themselves to the renewal plan. The Summit, which was hosted by the Gauteng government, discussed some 200 projects which form part of the plan, which aims to:
Substantially reduce levels of unemployment
Create a healthy and clean environment
Provide basic services at an affordable and sustainable level
Reduce levels of crime and violence
Upgrade existing housing environments and create affordable housing opportunities, and
Facilitate a process of de-densification to appropriate land
Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said at the Summit that the project aimed to turn Alexandra - known in its early years as "Dark City" -into a City of Light and hope.
TRANSFORMING ALEX
"The three spheres of government working together with the community and business need to ensure the success of the project," Shilowa said. "The project has a simple objective - to radically transform Alex and its surrounds, to make it a better place to live in with opportunities for employment and business."
Also speaking at the Summit, Gauteng MEC for Housing, Paul Mashatile, said the project would reverse the poor living conditions and inferior municipal services. He said that over 50 000 houses and flats, as well as recreational facilities would be built over the project's seven year lifespan. Infrastructure for the supply of water and electricity services would also be developed.
Economic empowerment of residents is another key objective of the project and Mashatile said government would focus on integrating Alexandra into the economy of the sub-region.
Emphasis will be placed on building the capacity of local small, medium and micro businesses and linking these to surrounding business activity. Business support centres will be established. During the project, local labour will be given preference and procurement will be targeted towards local people, Mashatile said.
Crime prevention and safety also forms part of the initiative. "With crime and violence being a major threat to business activities and general human life, problems of serious crime will be addressed through increased visible policing linked to the establishment of a new police station at AlexSan Kopano centre and the introduction of a municipal policing department," added Mashatile.