Johannesburg Slums 

Johannesburg Slums

Among the great cities built throughout history, Johannesburg remains to be one of the greatest. Although majestic and beautiful at first sight, there lies a plethora of historic dynamics yet to be explored! Prepare to be amazed as you travel through time and space. This page covers three particular townships in Johannesburg such as Alexandria, Soweto and Diesploot. All three slums surround the great city Johannesburg. Modern infrastructure, clean water, opportunity and public education.

Alexandria is considered by many to be at the center of attention globally. Alexandria was founded in 1904, to abide by the Apartheid law the inhabitants was required by color of skin to segregate. As mentioned in the news article “Exodus from Johannesburg” (New York Times.  Feb 11, 1955), groups of people were removed from their homes where many lived for decades in township informally called “blackspots”. Theses black spots turned into townships, due to the large amounts of people, infrastructure to accommodate the families was built on the fly and unfortunately this set-up by the government was not a temporary solution but permanent. The time constraint and lack of detail in construction led to long term consequences such as cramped spaces, lack of clean running water and school systems.  There many articles that painted a picture of Johannesburg and the most profound aspect is how the past still effects majority of Johannesburg. My purpose is to provide a cause and effect to explain the global phenomenon called slums. It has been years since the Apartheid but the rate of inequality continues to rise, natives of the slums in Johannesburg are relocated. Over fifty thousand natives were removed from their original housing, then placed in areas called “black spots”; complete segregation.

In correlation to recent times, the apartheid created an unbalance in financial and personal growth such as Schools, jobs, thriving businesses and public infrastructure is foreign. Two different worlds live side by side even after the removal the Apartheid.  Ultimately the “black spot areas did not have the financial or political ability to produce industry or modern infrastructure. According to “Fraser, Neil. 2008. The contestation for, and management of, public places in Johannesburg, South Africa. (ProQuest, Pg.177-98) There is a fight to gain back public space and the rising inequality obliviously surrounds the city.

Positions of power or wealth held by their ancestors was ripped away during the great movement of natives into black spots. In order for the government to abide by the law people had to be removed into excluded residences. In the article Housing on the Agenda, Joburg My city, our future states “Currently, there are over 2 700 informal settlements, which makes South Africa one of the countries with the highest number of informal dwellings, but according to the minister, many informal settlements are being upgraded.” (joburg.org.za), undesirable living conditions and latent infrastructure started a public outcry for equality of space and opportunity. Through poverty and lack necessities Johannesburg perseveres, showing the world that they work together and work as a community. For example in the article Joburg Unites Against xenophobia by Joburg, My city, Our future, Johannesburg’s political leaders are fighting against the violence on inter-regional migrants through non-violent protest and by setting up care centers for those who have been displaced because of the violence towards immigrants. This information enabled me to touch on subjects of interest on a micro scale such political issues, family relationship and civil right movements. For instance the township Alexandria is known for its poverty and violence but amidst the violence and turmoil there are natives of wish to turn around Alexandria into a livable and tourist friendly community. In the article Alex is doing it for itself by Joburg, My city, Our future, the people of Alexandria have set up more programs for its teens and adults to become more involved in their community, the programs include computer classes’ church activities and music.  

Countries across the world including the United States, provides examples on the Jim Crow law, the Jim Crow law started in 1890 and prevented many from owning land and from enjoying the necessities that “whites” had, this included education and citizen rights, in correlation to the Apartheid in South Africa established in 1948, the government had also formal segregation. There are many dynamics that spreads into three different forms such as the natives of the community objection creative destruction and desolation of neighborhoods in connection with Johannesburg. In my Global Cities course I have studied creative destruction and this is a perfect example in correlation with the right to the city. Right to the city, is imperative to understanding why there are political uproars or civil unrest. People who have lived in a particular spot have been displaced, removed or illegally evicted. The issue is the community planner or government disregards people’s lives. In many countries natives not only fight the community planners but also the government. In summation the United States has a system for many to be grateful of, most American citizens are able to sign a legal contract for a place to live (Apartments, house, condos etc.) and within the contract, and there are properties that include in their contract tenure security, water and trash. Studying the criminalization of the shanties on shaky legal grounds and the government removing people from their homes is surreal. I have yet in the United States read a news bulletin involving the government removing their citizens from their homes through criminalization. In other countries especially in the slums that surround Johannesburg, criminalizing the townships is the government’s way removing inhabitants to access land. The government then pass eviction papers on the natives. Lastly slums do not only exist internationally but maybe a mile away from you. Although reading about something other than your country is exciting; there are third world countries in our backyard.