What Problems Are Facing Alexandra Near Johannesburg Environmental Sciences Essay

What Problems Are Facing Alexandra Near Johannesburg surroundingsal Sciences EssayThe pay heed Alexandra was the name of a bring forthers wife who in 1905 trans stimulateed his dairy farm into a township and named it after his wife. Over the last century Alexandra has been mental hospital to umteen paltry immigrants looking for disclose standards of sustainment, waging their alive(p)s in the city of Johannesburg, as well as known as the place of gold. correspond to Alexandra reformation cipher(2006), Alexandra has grown to a population of approximately 350 000 masses, squeezed into an argona of about 800 hectargon and still showing no sign of decrease. This pattern of urban migration is painted across the history of Alexandra and was influenced by many a(prenominal) political events, one of which is the outbreak of the Second World warf be in 1939, when extensive labour was needed for widespread expanding of the industrial and commercialised sectors, empowering the for ce of urban migration. Alexandra even endured through the struggles of apartheid to become home to a diverse population of urban poor settlers. Alexandra Re recental Project(2006) states that Alexandra had until recent developments, a huge amount of liberal dwellings where estimates trampd from 34 000 upwards. so the township of Alexandra has a proud exclusively tragic history, which ushered it into the new century in grand need of regeneration. This paper exemplifies the pass char telephone numbereristics of Alexandra, a unsophisticated area locate on the ridge of Santon a rich suburb. Alexandra also is in close-fitting proximity to the major stinting hub of Gauteng, the city of Johannesburg. This article foc pr conductice sessions on the abbreviation of the situation before long found in Alexandra, which was undertaken through a in depth field study. In addition, this paper verbalisees the amicable and economic benefits that the civilize of civil engineers foot pre sent to Alexandra to elevate it from slum posture. This will be done by defining the concept of a slum and furthermore examining the situation in Alexandra.(Alexandra renewal project,2006 Morris,2000 Bonner Nieftagodien,2008).The term slum identifies with a range of low income settlements and poor standards of support. furthermore, according to UN-HABIT (2007) a slum could be delimitate as a heavily populated urban area characterised by low standard house and squalor. This apparent ill nature of slums submit many asking why do slums make up? According to UN-HABIT (2007) slums outlive because of a number of forces. near of these consist of rapid rural-to-urban migration, increasing urban p everywherety, inequality and globalisation. Applying these concepts to S.A its easy to see why Alexandra fell into the abyss that is slum status. With the advent of a new democratic government in 1994, flock in search of newly promised jobs pee flocked into the major hubs of S.A., wh ich dramatically change magnitude the rate of unskilled labour migrating to major cities, thus demonstrating rapid rural to urban migration. Furthermore UN-HABIT (2007) explains that the boom and busts of the economy such as that of S.A. stir up inequality and distribute new wealth unevenly , which hence contribute to the enormous growth of slums such as Alexandra. (Bonner Nieftagodien,2008 UN-HABIT,2007)The unify Nations adult male Settlements Programme(2006) specifies a slum to be an area or suburb to be deprived of nettle to safe water unsecure residential status, inadequate rile to sanitation and other alkali poor structural quality of housing and overcrowding. That is, if anyone of these defining characteristics are found in an area, that area is to be classified advertisement as a slum. Alexandra status in relation to these characteristics will be discussed down the stairs.Water and sanitation are key factors in the elevation of Alexandra from slum status. The ever increasing population growth within Alexandra, has overladen the bag to a point where water pressures are too low and stools oftentimes over head for the hills. In the areas with the postgraduateest density of informal settlements within Alexandra, water is peaceful by navigating breakneck paths between closely spaced shacks and collecting it from overloaded taps. These water taps do not have adequate drainage, wherefore water is left to flow between shacks. Moreover, pools of stagnant water form. According to United Nations Environment Programme(2000) these stagnant water pools are ideal grooming habitats for disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Because of this apparent pretermit of drainage systems below the informal settlements of Alexandra, passel tend to disperse of drive off water into these water counsels that flow between the shacks, causing ill smelling odours to settle and tumble way for water borne diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid and parasitic wo rms to thrive.( United Nations Environment Programme,2000 )Sanitation service play important role in rose-cheeked environment especially in areas deal Alexandra which are delimitate as slums. According to Barnes et al,(1999,p13) census data, 81% of the households in Alexandra have access to aflush or chemical toilet, 1% of households use pit latrines and approximately 15% use the bucket latrine system. The informal homes of Alexandra are not connected to the formal waterborne cloaca system, thus chemical takeout toilets service residents. These portable toilets are usually located next to streets on the outskirts of the informal settlements or shacks. These toilets are located in this way because at that place are no access roads nor space between the informal housing for municipal run to collect sewer waste from these toilets. As a result residents have to navigate dangerous pathways to get to these sanitation services. Mirriam a person who currently lives (guide) explains that as these passages become dangerous to navigate at night, thus people tend to desiccate into bags and discard them into these narrow passageways, which attributes to countless diseases and the appalling stench in the area. The lack of access also inhibits waste collection services to collect waste between the shacks, resulting in poor waste removal services in the area. Because of this, the overall area is contaminated by waste lying around, furthermore the lack of waste collection attracts disease infested vermin and animals, worsening health conditions within the slumThe congestion and overcrowding in Alexandra act as a catalysts to all problems found in the area. Overloading in informal settlements, hostels and along the banks of the Jukskei river make living conditions stressful, unhealthy and dangerous. The unplanned nature and the overpopulated basis usage, has forced some settlers to build informal housing below the outflow line of the Jukskei River and in some instan ces on severe slopes. According to United Nations Environment Programme(2000) during January 2000, unusually heavy rains precipitated and 120 informal households were washed away. In addition to over usage, structures have been built over previously installed sewer lines and manholes that make access for maintenance a tedious endeavour. Moreover, the overall high density of the informal settlements cause amplify the spreading of disorder like fires and diseases. Recent news reports that a devastating fire on 2 May 2011, killed three people and left 5000 people destitute living in Masiphumelele township, civil organisation in the informal settlement blame the high density of settlement and lack of access roads to be responsible for the sheer scale of devastation within the township. (Alexandra renewal project,2006 especial(a) interest meeting in Urban Settlement,2001 Eye Witness News,2011)The Childrens dreadedct of S.A. , according to New Africa Education(2004) states that al l children have a right to a safe environment and the right to recreational facilities so that children can be children. Alexandra is home to thousands of families, the Alexandra Renewal project (2006b) observes that over 120 000 children ranging from ages 2-18 years live in Alexandra. The slum conditions in Alexandra hinder children to develop into skilled professionals. That is, the over utilisation of the space available causes children to have nowhere to play and so compel them 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 r river as links crossing the river are too far away. Some of the valiant students cross the river by walking across a course that spans the river, this perceptibly is a dangerous feat and place children in gratuitous danger. Alexandra has access to electricity, but many illegal connections exist, these galvanizing connections pose another(prenominal) threat to children as substations are insecure and present a big danger to children with easy access available. These connections also give way to many fire hazardous in Alexandra.All aspects mentioned clearly classify Alexandra as a slum in accordance to the defining characteristics specified earlier. It was seen that Alex illustrates lack of access to water and sanitation, consists of non durable housing built on dangerous areas where insecure tenure is definite and that overpopulation gives way to in qualified living areas and dangers to children. Furthermore this in depth look at the situation in Alexandra emphasizes the dire need of a new age of renewal, hope and upliftment in this area. When reviewing the aspire of this paper it dictates that some form of solution to the uplift Alexandra from slum status imposed by the civil engineering will be addressed. Consequently these aspects will be argued below.Investments in civil engineering pr ojects can substantially increase living standards within Alexandra. The Alexandra Renewal Project(ARP) is one of eight projects that form part of S.A. Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme, enforced by President Mbeki in 2001. This programme is an approach to address urbanisation and housing challenges in S.A. According to Alexandra Renewal project (2001) the figure in 2001 for the ARP was estimated to be R1.7 billion over seven years. The Alexandra Renewal Project includes extensive use of civil engineering skills to promote the Alexandra from slum status. particular(prenominal) Interest Group in Urban Settlement (2001) points out that improvements in sanitation and water services can be identified as imperative to the elevation of Alexandra. This could be achieved by firstly overcoming the general overloading of the gutter system. By investigation it was found that civil engineers can construct new interceptor sewers which will connect to a new o utgoing sewer carrying sewerage off to the bulk sewerage system. According to Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement (2001) if such a system would be in place, it could provide adequate services to slum dwellers. The location and alinement of these new sewers is vital because for such a system to run adequately, there has to be access to manholes and pipes to provide maintenance services. Consequently this would mean astir(p) the alignment of informal houses. Moreover, the construction of ablution blocks on the side of streets, instead of the portable chemical toilets, would therefore mean the elimination of poor level of service and high maintenance costs of chemical portable toilets. The ARP included the upgrading of the outfall sewers in Alexandra between 2001 and 2004. The rehabilitation of water systems is closely linked to the treatment of the sewerage system, as it would be easier to install improved water lines in pairing with sewerage. The civil engineers attended to the low water pressures by upgrading water mains and by the construction of a new water reservoir, this formed part of the ARP. (Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement,2001 Alexandra Renewal project,2010 )The improvement of building infrastructure can transform Alexandra into a thriving urban area. Civil engineers can contribute by installing building infrastructure in a planned way, this includes the realignment of properties into small narrow stands. Which therefore results in the decrease in high densities of land usage and improves accessibility into Alexandra. Improved accessibility promotes better living conditions, as waste services are able to buy the farm between housing. Building infrastructure in the ARP included the construction of many buildings which act to improve social and economic status of the people living in Alexandra. These buildings includes construction and improvement of police stations, people centres, 1400 housing units, 350 social housing units, Ale xandra transit village and Marlboro transit village upgrade. These building improvements give owners a secure tenure which in turn spur them to keep abreast and invest in these building. The installation of this infrastructure give place to economic behaviour to form and to forester a spirit of entrepreneurship within Alexandra, as small business and educational services arise. The ARP included centres which is called clusters where slum dwellers are able to attain marketable skills such as care thespian skills, tourism skills and construction skills.( Alexandra Renewal project,2010 )Social end economical benefits do not only come in the form of new buildings but also includes the improvement of road and overall infrastructure. This includes the construction of recreational park and sport fields, upgrading of roads, widening of London bridge, construction of a prosy bridge across the Jukskei river and the improvement of storm water drainage. These improvements influence the socia l and economic aspects of Alexandra. The improvement of roads give Alexandra access to business markets outside of Alexandra, the pedestrian bridge relieve children from the dangers of crossing the Jukskei river and parks and sports fields remove people from a sense of squalor.( Alexandra Renewal project,2010 )To conclude, this essay depicts the situation found in Alexandra, an area defined as a slum. It was found that slums mainly exist due to rapid rural to urban migration, high levels of inequality and globalization. Moreover, slums where defined by the lack of the access to water, sanitation, durable housing, secure tenure and sufficient living areas. It was then illustrated that Alexandra can be characterised as a slum, because of its poor quality of water and sanitation services. Furthermore congestion proved to act as a catalyst to other problems such as unsafe tenure and spreading of diseases . Also, dangerous aspects such as illegal electrical connections and inadequate lac k of infrastructure was illustrated.