Alexandra (sometimes nicknamed "Alex") is a township located in Gauteng province, South Africa. It is situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg, close to the wealthy suburb of Sandton and is bounded by Wynberg on the west, Marlboro and Kelvin on the north, and Kew, Lombardy West and Lombardy East on the south. In contrast, Alexandra is one of the poorest urban areas in the country. Children in a township near Cape Town in 1989 In South Africa, the term township usually refers to the (often underdeveloped) urban residential areas that, under Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites (Africans, Coloureds and Indians) who lived near or worked in areas that were designated white-only. Soweto (actually... Capital Johannesburg Largest city Johannesburg Area  - Total Ranked 9th 17,010 km² Premier (List) Mbhazima Shilowa (ANC) Population   - 2001   - 1996   - Density (2001) Ranked 2nd 8,837,172 7,348,423 520/km² (Ranked 1st) Languages isiZulu (21. ... City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... Central Sandton Sandton is a town in the northern part of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, South Africa in the Gauteng Province. ... Wynberg is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. ... Marlboro is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. ... Kew is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. ...

Alexandra is situated on the banks of the Jukskei River. The township covers an area of more than 8 km² and has an estimated population of 470,000 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". The Jukskei River is one of the only rivers in Johannesburg, South Africa. ...

History

Alexandra was established in 1912, 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. See also: 1911 in South Africa, other events of 1912, 1913 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

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. See also: 1911 in South Africa, other events of 1912, 1913 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1912 in South Africa, other events of 1913, 1914 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... The Natives Land Act was an Act by the South African legislature in 1913 that was aimed at regulating the acquisition of land by natives. The Act formed an important part of the system of Aparthied and is of importance for both legal and historic reasons. ...

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. See also: 1915 in South Africa, other events of 1916, 1917 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

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 Tembisa and Soweto. The National Party (Afrikaans: Nasionale Party) (with its members sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats) was the governing party of South Africa from June 4th 1948 until May 9th 1994, and was disbanded in 2005. ... See also: 1947 in South Africa, other events of 1948, 1949 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Sophiatown was a lively, mostly-black suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. ... Tembisa is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. ... Johannesburg, including Soweto, from the International Space Station Soweto is an urban area in Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa. ...

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 led by the Rev Sam Buti's Save Alexandra Party, only two hostels were actually completed, and so the scheme was cancelled in 1979. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... See also: 1978 in South Africa, other events of 1979, 1980 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

The riots that started in Soweto in June 1976 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. See also: 1975 in South Africa, other events of 1976, 1977 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

Finally, in 1982, Alexandria was given the official status of a residential area and the then Alexandra liaison committee, led by Rev Buti, was instituted to run the township. See also: 1981 in South Africa, other events of 1982, 1983 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

In 1980 a "Master Plan" for Alexandra was introduced, which aim was to transform Alexandra into a "Garden City" with a completely 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 1986, during which 40 people were killed. By May the council started collapsing and the councillors resigned which saw the emergence of street committees and peoples' courts. After the imposition of the nationwide state of emergency in June, the Defence Force moved in to keep the peace. 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. See also: 1979 in South Africa, other events of 1980, 1981 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 1990. This article is about the year. ...

During the communal and political conflicts that took place in the 1991 - 1992 period, many people were killed, injured or displaced. This led 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. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (IPA ) (born July 18, 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. ...

In order to assist in renewing and uplift the community, the Alexandra Renewal Project was launced in 2000. Approximately 3,000 houses built for relocation purposes to date. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... See also: 1999 in South Africa, other events of 2000, 2001 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

Notable residents and ex-residents

Notable residents and ex-residents of Alexandra include:

• Nelson Mandela
• Zanele Mbeki (wife of President Thabo Mbeki)
• Mark Mathabane (Tennis player and author of the autobiography Kaffir Boy).
• Samora Machel (former Mozambiquan President)
• Alfred Nzo (South African Minister of Foreign Affairs 1994-1999)
• Joe Modise (South African Minister of Defence 1994-1999)
• Hugh Masekela (musician and trumpeter)
• Jack Lerole (musician and penny-whistle player)
• Wally Serote (poet)
• Annie Twala (the "Mother of Alexandra")
• Irvin Khoza (boxer)
• Sam Buti (Reverand)
• Joe Mafodi Manana (Freedom Fighter)
• "Jingles" Makgoti (poet)

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (IPA ) (born July 18, 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. ... Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (born June 18, 1942) is the President of the Republic of South Africa. ... Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (born June 18, 1942) is the President of the Republic of South Africa. ... Bold textMark Mathabane, born Johannes Mathabane, is a tennis player, author, and lecturer. ... A tennis net Tennis is a game played between either two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponents court. ... Cover of An autobiography, from the Greek auton, self, bios, life and graphein, write, is a biography written by the subject or composed conjointly with a collaborative writer (styled as told to or with). The term dates from the late eighteenth century, but the form is much older. ... Kaffir Boy is Mark Mathabanes autobiography about life under the South African apartheid regime. ... US President Reagan and President Samora Machel of Mozambique Samora Moisés Machel (September 29, 1933 - October 19, 1986) was President of Mozambique from 1975 until he died eleven years later, when his presidential aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain where the borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland converge. ... Motto: none Anthem: Pátria Amada (formerly Viva, Viva a FRELIMO) Capital (largest city) Maputo Portuguese Government Republic  - President Armando Guebuza  - Prime Minister Luísa Diogo Independence    - from Portugal June 25, 1975  Area  - Total 801,590 km² (35th) 309,496 sq mi   - Water (%) 2. ... Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo (1925-2000) was a South African black political figure. ... Johannes Joe Modise (May 23, 1929 - November 26, 2001) was a South African political figure. ... Hugh Masekela (born Johannesburg, April 4, 1939) is a South African flugelhorn and cornet player. ... Mongane Wally Serote (1944-) is a South African poet and writer. ... Annie Twala was one of the first residents of Alexandra, a township near Johannesburg, South Africa. ...

External link

• Alexandra Renewal Project Website

Irvin Khoza is not a boxer but the chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club.