CoJ acknowledges it needs to address housing crisis in Alexandra

JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg has acknowledged that it needs to be more proactive in addressing the housing crisis in Alexandra.

The metro is conducting a site visit in the township today to assess conditions along the busy Vincent Tshabalala Road.

An informal settlement has emerged along parts of the road, raising concerns of encroachment on municipal property.

Sewage water is clearly flowing down Vincent Tshabalala Road in Alexandra, with burst pipes adding to the problem.

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A sight that is hard to ignore is how children from Iphuteng Primary School have to navigate these conditions on their walk home.

However, some of them live in an informal settlement right across the street, which was directly built on the road.

Johannesburg Development Planning MMC Eunice Mgcina warns that this poses a safety risk, as some of the structures may be standing on top of electricity cables beneath the road.

"We need Human Settlements to play a part in this process of demolition. Even though the budget is not enough, there is too much lawlessness in Alex."

She said the city is in the process of finding solutions to the many issues in the township.