CASE STUDY: SQUATTER

CAMP
Area of Focus: Alexandra
(Gauteng Province , South Africa)
 BACKGROUND

• Alexandra , informally abbreviated as “Gomorrha” was formerly farmland that belonged to

Afrikaans farmer Mr H.B. Papenfus who initially tried to establish a white township after his wife
Alexandra Van der Merwe.
• It forms part of the city of Johannesburg and is located close to the upper class suburb of Sandton.
• It is commonly known as “Gomorrha” among local residents because of the increase in criminal
activities in the region.
• It is situated on the banks of the Jukskei River and has a large number of more than 55000
informal dwellings and squatter camps.
 POPULATION STATISTICS
• The total area is 6.91 square kilometers (2.67 square miles) and a population of 194365 in 2017
with a population density of 26000 people per square kilometer.
 POPULATION(CONT.)
• Race percentage : Languages spoken :

Race / Ethnic group Percentage Languages Spoken Percentage

Black African 99% Zulu and IsiNdebele 26.3%

Colored and Indian 0.5% Northern Sotho and Tsonga 34.4%

White 0.1% Xhosa 9.8%

Other cases 0.4% Venda and Other languages 29.6%

• Alexandra was also one of the areas where the Soweto riots of June 1976 occurred. As a
consequence , evictions and forced removal of black people were stopped.
 PROBLEMS FACED IN ALEX

1. Inadequate water and sanitation

• Water and Sanitation are key factors in the elevation of Alexandra from squatter camp status.
• The increasing population growth within Alexandra has overloaded the infrastructure to a point where water
pressures are too low and sewers frequently overflow.
• In areas with the highest density of squatters within Alexandra , water is collected by navigating through dangerous
paths between closely spaced “shacks” and collecting it from overloaded taps if present. These water taps do not
have adequate drainage , consequently water is left to flow between sacks.
2. Spread of Diseases
• This has mainly been caused by large population density in Alexandra hence making it very easy for the
spread of communicable diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
• Another element that has lead to the easy spread of communicable diseases is poor sanitation facilities.
According to United Nations Environment Programme , the stagnant water pools in Alex are ideal breeding
habitats for disease vectors such as mosquitoes.
• Because of this apparent lack of drainage systems below the informal settlements of Alexandra , people tend
to dispose of waste water into waterways that flow between the “shacks” causing ill smelling odors to settle
and give way to more water borne diseases such as dysentery , cholera as well as parasitic worms to thrive.
3. Overcrowding and congestion
• The congestion and overcrowding in Alexandra act as a catalyst to most of Alex’s problems .
Overcrowding in informal settlements along the banks of the Jukskei river make living conditions
stressful and dangerous.
• The unplanned nature and the overpopulated ground usage has forced some squatters to build informal
housing below the floodplain of the Jukskei river and on some instances on unsafe slopes which has
increased chances of flooding
• Unusual rains usually precipitate and wash away some of the “shacks”.
• Overcrowding also makes it easy for fires to spread around the whole area.
4. Hindered child development
• Over utilization of the space available causes children to have nowhere to play and consequently compel them to
turn to dangerous streets to occupy themselves.
• For some of the children who live on the opposing side of the Jukskei river , going to school comprises of having
to wade through the Jukskei river as bridges crossing the river are far away.
• Some of the valiant students cross the river by walking across a pipeline that spans the river , this perceptibly is a
dangerous feat and place for children hence placing them in unnecessary danger.
• Many illegal electricity connections exist as people cut Eskom wires and join them to their “shacks”. This poses
another threat to children as substations are insecure and present a considerable danger to children in terms of
live wires being exposed.
5. Increase in criminal activities
• Due to overcrowding and congestion , this has made it easy for criminals to practise their “art” in
Alex due to the dangerous and narrow paths in between the shacks at night which make it easy
for muggings , kidnapping and rape to occur.
• As a consequence , Alex is not only dirty and unhealthy , but also dangerous.
 SOLUTIONS

• Investments in civil engineering projects can substantially increase living standards within Alexandra.
The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) is one of eight projects that form part of the South African
Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Programme enforced by Thabo Mbeki in 2001. This
progamme is an approach to address urbanization and housing challenges in South Africa. Its also
includes extensive use of civil engineering skills to promote Alexandra form slum status
• The improvement of building infrastructure can transform Alexandra into a thriving urban area. Civil
engineers can contribute by installing building infrastructure in a planned manner , this includes re-
alignment of properties into small narrow stands which therefore results in the decrease in high
densities of land usage and improves accessibility into Alexandra which promotes better living
conditions and disposal of waste material.
BY : TANATSWA MAPHOLISA MOYO DOS
SANTOS AVEIRO
Thank you for listening to my presentation.