Region E

Region E is home to many of Johannesburg’s older established suburbs that lie along Louis Botha Avenue, the old main road between Johannesburg and Pretoria. But it includes many of the city’s newer suburbs that sprung up around developments in and near central Sandton.

It is also home to Alexandra, an old township with a significant place in South Africa’s history. Its long-standing poverty was exacerbated by the violence of the political struggle that led to a democratic South Africa, and by a continuing influx of informal settlers.

Previously a symbol of apartheid oppression, Alex, as it is better known, now often stands as a beacon of hope. The Alexandra Renewal Project is designed to uplift the area and undo the legacy of racial inequality.

Also in the region are the old suburbs of Houghton Estate, Oaklands and Norwood, which are dotted with impressive old mansions, many built by those who made their fortunes on the gold mines but who wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city.

To its northeast border, beyond the N3 Eastern Bypass, are the suburbs of Modderfontein, Linbro Park and Founders Hill.

The vast region is home to a mix of highly paid professionals, middle income workers and lower paid labourers. There is also a high level of unemployment, especially around Alex.

Regional Director

Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro, the director of Region E, believes prioritising Alexandra and other areas in the northern suburbs that are showing early signs of decay should form the core of the region’s mandates.

Where we are
The region forms one of Johannesburg’s eastern borders, situated towards the northeastern end of the metro.

To its north is Region A (Midrand), with Region B (comprising of Northcliff, Craighall Park and Randburg, among others) to the west and Region F (the inner city and Johannesburg South) to its south. To the east are the neighbouring towns of Kempton Park and Germiston, which are part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. As such, the region is situated within a reasonable distance of OR Tambo International Airport.

General description
Land use in the region varies from residential in the northwest, the west and the south, to industrial and manufacturing areas in the northeast. Alexandra, a small but densely populated area, is undergoing a radical face-lift, with efforts to de-densify it, introduce proper street signage and lighting and prevent encroachment along the banks of the Jukskei River.
New developments along Alex’s East Bank have gone some way towards alleviating housing pressure. Neighbouring Alex is Sandton central – reputed to be the richest spot in Africa – complete with world-class shopping; entertainment and hospitality facilities; the JSE Limited, the South African stock exchange; office blocks housing local and multinational institutions; and luxury apartments. Sandton also has the second highest amount of office space in the country, behind the Johannesburg inner city, and has clearly established itself as the leading financial district in South Africa.

There are a variety of established residential areas in the region, from the large expensive homes of Houghton Estate and Bryanston in the north, to the middle-income areas of Sandringham and Lyndhurst in the east and Linksfield in the centre. To the south, Orange Grove and Bezuidenhout Valley are in transition, thanks to their proximity to the inner city.
The City has been making a concerted effort to gentrify the area, by improving the infrastructure and trying to attract middle-income homeowners. Industrial areas include Wynberg, Marlboro and Linbro Park.

Nearby Modderfontein is used by AECI for the manufacture of explosives, and light manufacturing takes place in Wynberg. The vast Frankenwald site, owned by the University of the Witwatersrand, is earmarked for mixed-use development.
Major roads in the region include the M1 motorway, sections of the N1 Western Bypass and the N3 Eastern Bypass, Louis Botha Avenue, Corlett Drive, Oxford Road and Rivonia Road.
The region’s two main geographic features are the Jukskei River, which drains to the north, with its tributary Sandringhamspruit, and a portion of Linksfield Ridge to the south. The latter is regarded as ecologically sensitive, as are the Harvey Nature Reserve, the Mervyn King Trail and the Jukskei and its tributaries. Aside from its rich diversity of trees, bushes, flowers and bird life, Linksfield Ridge is also of historical importance. In addition, a section of Modderfontein has been designated as a conservation area, but it has yet to be fully developed and remains under-utilised.
The Jukskei River has been adversely affected by very large informal settlements in Alex. People living below the flood line have frequently suffered during heavy rains when the river floods its banks. Johannesburg is involved in several initiatives to rehabilitate the river and its banks; a prime example is the development of Jukskei Park on the eastern bank of the river in Alexandra. City Parks has also been conducting education programmes, encouraging school children to clean up the river and to urge others to keep it clean.

Demographic information
The estimated population of the region is 394 000, representing 14 percent of the population of Greater Johannesburg. It is composed of 87 percent black, 11 percent white, 1 percent Indian and 1 percent coloured people, mostly between 17 and 35 years old. The extremely low percentage (less than 5 percent) of children and the elderly highlights the transient nature of the inhabitants of Alex.

Key issues
There are a number of challenges facing the region, including:
An uncontrolled influx of people into Alexandra;
Informal settlers along the banks of the Jukskei River;
Perceived high-risk areas;
A housing backlog in Alexandra;
A rise in illegal occupation of land in Marlboro South;
Decay in the Orange Grove area; and
Traffic congestion in the Sandton area.

Clinics

Counc​illors​

Facilities

Most of the region’s parks and open spaces are in the southern residential areas. With Bezuidenhout, Old Royal, Dixon, Rhodes, Alexander, Hofland and Orange Grove parks among them, they include some of Johannesburg’s longest-established regional leisure areas. Recreational facilities also include some old, familiar places, such as Patterson Park and Jabula. Among other centres are the Alex Trek Recreational Area, the Bezuidenhout Valley Caravan Lapa, the East Bank Recreational Centre and the Helen Joseph Multi-Purpose Centre. Alexandra Stadium is prominent among the dedicated sports venues.

There are members-only tennis, bowling, soccer and hockey clubs in the region. For mall shoppers, the large Eastgate Shopping Centre with its cinema complex provides a convenient destination for much of the area, while the northern section has the many attractions of Sandton. Sandton City shopping centre, together with the adjoining Nelson Mandela Square, form one of the largest shopping complexes in the southern hemisphere, attracting shoppers from around Johannesburg and even abroad.

One of Johannesburg’s longest-operating flea markets, Bruma Lake Flea Market, provides the pleasures of unusual finds and curio shopping together with eateries and entertainment for the kids. The region also boasts the Liberty Life Wanderers cricket ground, home to the Highveld Strikers and a world-renowned venue for international one-day and test matches. Further south is the Houghton Golf Club, which is well used by residents from across the city.

The JSE is the 17th largest stock exchange in the world and the largest on the continent. There is far more industrial activity in the east of the region, in the suburbs of Wynberg and Kew. Though growth in these traditionally industrial areas is slowing down, an industrial corridor is taking shape along the eastern edge of the N3.

Opportunities abound in Alex as the renewal project gathers pace and the township moves away from being purely dormitory in nature. Among the aims of the project are the effective economic integration of the area into the metropolitan economy and the creation of a secure and well-managed environment conducive to investment.

The development, encouragement and support of small- and medium-sized businesses are also important aims of the project, as is skills development. There are similar opportunities in Bruma, which the City hopes to revitalise and transform into a gateway node to the inner city.

Another small node in the region is Norwood, along Grant Avenue, which is home to shops, restaurants and offices. An advantage for business in the region is its close proximity to OR Tambo International Airport, as well as to Sandton, Midrand, the Johannesburg inner city and other towns on the East Rand.

Two hospitals, Edenvale and Rietfontein, are close to each other to the west of the N3 highway. Although the National Institute for Virology and the South African Institute for Medical Research are also here, these do not have any specific effect on the provision of services to the local community.

Recreational facilities in Alexandra itself are in a poor state, although there are a number of well-run recreational centres and sports facilities in the rest of region. The region has tennis, bowling, soccer and hockey clubs. Safety and security is a serious problem in certain areas, particularly in Alexandra and the industrial parts of the region. Part of the reason for this is the lack of recreational facilities, unemployment and low educational levels.

Suburbs