Alex website mooted
ALEXANDRA – Alex gold gave rise to the City of Gold.
Alex’s contribution to the emergence of Johannesburg, the foundation of the national economy remains hidden, without a platform for exposure.
This is according to social activist Thabo Mopasi who mooted the need for a website for the township. “The younger generation, including generations of Alex descendants, will remain ignorant of this important past,” Mopasi said alluding to the township’s role in shaping the City of Gold.
“Long before gold reefs were ‘found’ in and around Joburg, Alex children in 1853, unknowingly, played marbles using nuggets picked from alluvial gold along the Jukskei River and other spots up and downstream.
“This eventually led to the discovery of the reefs, rise of Joburg and, the beginning of labour migration to Alex for the mines.”
The population implosion further increased after the industrial revolution’s upswing after 1939 to 1945 World War,” he added in reference to people like former State President Nelson Mandela.
He added that this heightened political consciousness among Africans and should be exposed to historians and tourists by the website.
Mopasi identified other significant historical sites like churches, schools, and homes some of which have been granted heritage status through blue plaques by the City of Joburg. “They need exposure together with many notable sites of change making events, architecture and artefacts which should be protected as selling points for Alex to the outside world.”
He also noted its location as prime and central for easy access and exit anywhere through two freeways, proximity to Sandton and, encouraged upcoming researchers to rewrite its history with that of other African settlements and urbanisation trends. “This will encourage them to also lobby for the return of many of their ancestors’ artefacts which were taken and are still stored in Europe under the guise that Africa lacked the capacity to care for them.”
Community leaders would be other beneficiaries of information from the website for their development planning. “Also, social media users should embrace the idea which will enrich them with correct knowledge to share with others about Alex then and now,” he said in reference to what he called Greater Alexandra after its incorporation of Setswetla, East Bank, Far East Bank, Tsutsumani, River Park, parts of abandoned factories in Marlboro, Kew and Lombardy East.
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