Government has reached an agreement with the Alexandra Property Owners which will bring to an end a 10-year-old land dispute which has prohibited government to undertake a massive development programme to rehabilitate and de-densify the old sections of the township.

The Gauteng Provincial Government said on Tuesday the out-of-court agreement was expected to result in the withdrawal of an interdict by Property Owners – according to the interdict government-led developments could only be implemented on the outskirts of Alexandra‚ preventing work on the old section of the township (Alexandra proper).

The agreement‚ described as “historic and ground breaking”‚ will for the first time enable both the provincial government and City of Johannesburg‚ working in partnership with community stakeholders to start initiating massive development plans to finally end slum-conditions and turn around the old section of the township.

Government was led by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo‚ MMC for Human Settlements‚ Cllr Dan Bovu and MMC for Development Planning‚ Cllr Roselynn Greef‚ both from City of Johannesburg.

“Government has over the years spend millions of rands to build infrastructure‚ roads‚ social facilities and created over 14 000 housing opportunities outside the periphery of the old sections of the township,” said Mamabolo.

The MEC further announced that the provincial government had appointed a team of conveyancers to assist in determining the value of the more than 2 000 properties affected by the dispute.

Mamabolo also said the resolution of the land dispute had moved a step closer and once the land ownership had been sorted‚ beneficiaries would be given three options which would include monetary compensation‚ provision of alternative stands and an opportunity for people who want to partner with government in developing Alexandra through availing their land.