Township with an Eye Towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Reportage and photos by William Farrington

  
   

View of Alex from East bank facing West towards Sandton
   
South Africans are busy preparing for The World Summit of Sustainable Development upcoming  August 24th to September 4th in Johannesburg. While governmental ministers are meeting in Bali to draft the agenda for the summit, community activists in Alexandra township, 12 blocks from the Sandton convention center where the summit will be held, are busy organizing home stays and putting the finishing touches on a historical tour for the expected influx of visitors.   
   

St. Hubert's Catholic Church, one of the stops on the historic tour of Alexandra
   
Issues covered in the draft now being hammered out include measures to cut poverty, improve sanitation, preserve natural ecosystems, and reduce pollution. United Nations Deputy Secretary Louise Frechette stated "The Summit is truly a chance to set a more hopeful course of development for all humanity. We know what needs to be done . Now let's move ahead". What needs to be done can be seen with the naked eye.  'Alex', as the township is popularly known is just a stones throw from the What needs to be done can be seen with the naked eye. Although 'Alex', as the township is popularly known is just a stones throw from the luxury and privilege of Sandton, the socio-economics of the two areas couldn't be more diametrical.  
   

Shanties crowding the pavement of this street in Alex.  In the rear is the woman's hostile constructed by the Apartheid government.  Although Sandton and Alex share a border, the socio-economic differences are striking.
   
The affluent homes behind high walls on jacaranda tree lined residential streets couldn't  be in greater contrast to the patchwork quilt of shanties that crowd the pavement just a ten minute walk down the hill. The way ahead, the results that co-operation between wealthy and impoverished communities can bring, is less dramatic but can be found. The Alexander resource center is literally the center of town. It is the result of a collaborative effort by Alexsakopano, an acronym for Alexandra / Sandton reaching out, formed by residents of both communities. On a recent afternoon a crowd had gathered listening to a marimba band perform. Until 1992, when it was completed,  the people of 'Alex' did not have a place to meet. In fact there is a tree on seventh avenue, not far from Nelson Mandela's first home, that is known as the 'people's parliament' because that is where matters of importance were discussed.   
   

The leaders of the revolt against the Apartheid government met each day under this tree.  Since then, it has been known as the "People's Parliament"
   
The communities came together in 1986 for the purpose of building the center, which now offers a wide range of services-a library, youth office, computer studios as well as housing ALXFM community radio, Lifeline, and the Kelly employment agency.  Abbey Sechoaro explains how the program he is involved with reaches out to youth . Using a holistic approach, the one year courses teach life skills training, followed by job skills training in fields where there is opportunity. Abbey says they have had success placing graduates in areas as such as local government, the construction industry, event management, and especially the hospitality industry where 215 are now employed, some in 5 star hotels. The importance of tourism can't be over looked.  
   

Patrick Gumede, Abbey Sechoaro and Peter Mathipa relaxing in a Shabeen
   
Abbey and Patrick Gumede, both registered guides, demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moossa spoke of at the Indaba tourism exhibition last month. "Tourism" he stated "is an important contributoror to the growth of the economy and one of the objectives of the S.A. economy is to promote and grow small, medium, and micro enterprises. To promote emerging enterprises and entrepreneures, and to promote black owned enterprises." And seen through their eyes the summit is a  great opportunity "to make Alex a destination in itself " and in this case sustainable development may mean enjoying the experience this historic township has to offer.  
   

The center building was Nelson Mandela's first house.  Now occupied, it is slated to become a museum in his honor.
   
Contact info:  Abbey Sechoaro-27 83 553568Patrick Gumede-27 83 4243463 email  alextours@fast.co.za