Alexandra Township: Is there light in the commonly known “dark city” township?

Mpho Moloele

What is the dark? Can one ever be confined to it? Can darkness ever drive out darkness in a city? Or can darkness only be driven out by light?

As power supply becomes under pressure due to coal being wet. Residents of Alexandra Township are feeling the pain just like the Mbanjwa family who were the first residents of the “dark city” when it was proclaimed a township in 1912. 

As the soft showers continues outside and families loudly conversing in the dark in the comfort of their colourful painted houses and zinc shacks. They are not bothered because in the midst of all the surroundings the “Son” light is still shining within them and the Sun light will provide them with Vitamin D to move their muscles “to be the change that they want to see” in Alex.

The name the “dark city” has been attached with the lack of electricity in most of the 20th century and it still remained even when Reverend Sam Buti’s resident became the first to be powered with electricity in the early 1970’s. He then became the light when he established a Save Alex campaign to stop the township from being demolished in 1979. With electricity having being defined as a “mode of motion” by Thomas Edison it became natural for residents to become pioneers of the community and improve its residency.

To eradicate the filthy bucket system toilets and to educate people about sanitation, a group of inspiring four young people have established an organisation called Building Blocks Foundation. Here recipients participate in building flushing toilets and after that they undergo an informative workshop on hygiene and management of the toilets. “The people are now aware of the sanitation debacle, they are taking ownership and doing it for themselves rather than having to wait for the government to help them” saying it with a sense of relief, the Research and Operations officer, Itumeleng Mothopeng. 

As the power station generates the electric power from outside the community, these life changing agents do it from the inside out.

Kala/Mine Productions gives spot light to the countless of untold stories of those who are said to be suppressed and excluded in society. “ It is a tool that is there to really suck out hidden talent, use memorable moments for ones history to be told through theatre, television, music, photography and poetry” says founder and creative director of KLM, Banele P. Mtebele. With his team all being from Alexandra they want to make the world see the multi faceted flowers (Residents) growing from a dustbin (Alex).

The name “dark city” can now be associated with the socio economic problems that the inhabitants encounter. Some being lack of housing and sanitation, unemployment and crime. These are being overshadowed because just as electricity lights up the community these young agents do the same by transforming peoples’ lives. Their light is striking like lightning, electrifying their minds to innovate and implement sustainable community development power stations. 

The truth is “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that”, Martin Luther King Jr. said.