The Gauteng Provincial Government was awarded the United Nations scroll of honour at the World Habitat Day event held at Washington DC (USA). The Alexandra Renewal Project scooped one of the prestigious awards of the United Nations habitat. The Housing Department made a submission for consideration for the UN habitat scroll of honour award. This award of honour was launched by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in 1989 and is currently the most prestigious human settlements award in the world.
Its aim is to acknowledge initiatives which have made outstanding contributions in various fields such as shelter provision, highlighting the plight of the homeless, leadership in post conflict reconstruction, and developing and improving the human settlements and the quality of urban life.
The award, a plaque engraved with the name of the winner and their achievement was presented to the winners during the Global Observance of World Habitat Day. This year the event which was held at Washington DC in the United States awarded the scroll of honour to MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro, who received it on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Local Government and Housing.
“We are delighted to have won receive award. We see this as a vote of confidence on the policies that we have pursued as government. We have identified other urban renewal projects following the notable success of the Alex Renewal Project. We have approved the development of the Tembisa and Winterveldt urban regeneration projects in order to improve historical townships existing in our province. We also have the priority township project which is also being implemented around the identified townships of Gauteng.
The best practices and lessons learned in the ARP are being replicated in other projects across the province and countrywide. We are working tirelessly to provide housing security and comfort for our people” said MEC Lekgoro.
The Alexandra Renewal Project was born in 2001 as an urban regeneration project that is aimed at reviving the social, economic and physical outlook of the urban township north of Johannesburg. It aimed among others to build houses, fix urban infrastructure, build parks, fix the Jukskei River, Convert Hostels into family units and change the urban landscape of Alex.
The successful implementation of the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) has improved the living conditions and human development potential within Alexandra Township. People who have previously lived on the flood lines have now access to descent and habitable shelter in the form of new housing development initiatives. Residents have found employment on the ARP related construction sites while others have established small business in the area. The projects key achievements lies in the innovation shown in improving the lives of existing residents, despite a range of technical, social and political difficulties they confront on a daily basis.
“Many commendable candidates were considered for this award. It was our unanimous opinion that the Alexandra Renewal Project should receive the award this year for its outstanding efforts in upgrading the housing, social and physical infrastructure of the Alexandra neighbourhood and improving the living conditions for its residents” said UN habitat.
MEC Lekgoro was accompanied by the Acting Head of Department of the Department Mr Mongezi Mnyani, the MMC for Housing in the City of Johannesburg and the Executive Director for Housing as well.
For more information please contact:
Fred Mokoko
Cell: 082 447 8407
Tel: 011 355 4013
E-mail Fred.Mokoko@gauteng.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
5 October 2009
