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Alexandra is situated on the banks of the Jukskei River . The township covers an area of more than 800 hectares and has an estimated population of 350,000 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".
Alexandra was established in 1904, on land originally owned by a farmer, a Mr. Papenfus, who tried to establish a white residential township there, naming it after his wife, Alexandra. However, due to the fact that 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.
By 1916, the population of Alexandra had grown to 30,000 people and thus the Alexandra Health Committee was established to manage the township. 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 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. Despite this, about 50,000 people were forcibly moved to Thembisa and Soweto.
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. However, due to the high costs, lack of alternative housing for the persons that would have to have been removed and the escalating opposition, only two hostels were actually completed, and so the scheme was cancelled in the mid- 1970sMillennia: 1st millennium 2nd millennium 3rd millennium Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Years: 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Events and trends.
The riots that started in Soweto in June 19761976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 12 UN Security Council votes 11-1 to admit the Palestinian Liberation Organization January 15 Would-be Gerald Ford presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore is s quickly spread to other areas such as Alexandra, where 19 people were killed. 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 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings., Alexandria was given the official status of a residential area.
In 19801980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. Events January-February January 1- April 1 National steel strike in United Kingdom January 1 Changes to the Swedish Act of Succession creates Victoria of Sweden, Crown Princess over her younger brother January 5 He a "Master Plan" for Alexandra was introduced, which aim was to transform Alexandra into a "Garden City" with a comletely new layout. 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 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa, during which 40 people were killed.
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 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo.
During the communal and political conflicts that took place in the 19911991 like 2002, is a palindromic year. It also has the same calendar as 2002, including Easter on March 31. It is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 2 Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first blac - 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi period, many people were killed, injured or displaced. This lead to several peace initiatives, which were greatly assisted by the first fully democratic South African elections in April 1994. 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.
In order to assist in renewing and uplift the community, the Alexandra Renewal Project was launced in 2000.