2.2.2.URBANISATION

2.2.2. SETSWETLA RAPID URBANISATION _

Figure 28: Incremental development of Setswetla from 2004-2021, image adapted from Google Maps, 2021

NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE _

Alexandra grew with two new residential developments known as the East Bank and Far East Bank residential extension. In 2004, the construction of the Marlboro Gautrain Station and a new pedestrian bridge commenced. By 2007, both projects were completed. This promoted rapid urbanisation which led to illegal occupation of open undeveloped land between residential areas in Alexandra now known as Setswetla. Setswetla settlement has an odd name, which means ‘nakedness’. The name also comes from Spoke H song titled “Stjwetla”, a song about a modern dance, which envolves twerking while naked. The settlement’s name provides some indication of the vulnerability of the area, as people are settling where they are ‘naked’ and exposed to social and extreme weather vulnerabilities. By 2015, Setswetla had already grown to 50% capacity, with congested dwellings in and around the pedestrian bridge (Mere, 2011: 07-10). Today, the settlement has reached its full capacity, extending from the pedestrian bridge to the Gautrain station. Considering the rapid urbanisation growth through these years, it should be noted that although the settlement grew incrementally, it also changed and adapted in specifi c periods. This is mostly because of the relocation of residents to safer areas in the aftermath of a severe fl ood. Dwellings previously located on the river bed are known to have been destroyed or even swept up by the tide during a fl ash fl ood, leaving residents with nothing except the clothes on their backs.