Slovo Park at a Glance

Slovo Park is situated in a politically and socially sensitive stretch of land south of Soweto. The community has been known by national government as Nancefield, by local council as Olifantsvlei and in the last five years as Slovo Park – named in honour of South Africa’s first minister of housing and former Umkhonto we Sizwe General, Joe Slovo.

The forced changing of identity reflects an on-going struggle faced by the leadership of Slovo Park to gain recognition as a legitimate settlement to access governmental support. This battle has been fought through constant shifts in governmental policy, power and promises for the community of Slovo Park. Their only tactics comprising of service delivery protest, painstaking formal requests for upgrade and currently a lawsuit against the City of Johannesburg.

Currently the community of Slovo Park with its development partners are strategizing this key social and political move.


THIS SITE SERVES AS A PORTAL FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SLOVO PARK & THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO SHARE THE JOURNEY OF RE-DEVELOPMENT.


NEWSFEED



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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Day 6: Build Day 1

Today was the first Build Day, held every Saturday during construction where anyone is invited to come join in and help complete the project. Fellow architecture students joined the Slovo Park Community today in preparing the site for the construction that is to happen during the week. The shortage of cement and the need to allow the strip foundations to cure meant that, the landscape was to be the focus of the day

Part of the team helped clear the site of debris, which will hopefully be ready for the grading and rolling of the site.

Second year students, were able to use their first year knowlege of surveying in practice, by helping to set out levels for paving.


Discussions about the most practical way of laying out the paving, made us realize how important drawings are in this process, and how they should communicate practical implementation. we learnt alot, and with the knowledge , skill and experience of the community members, drawings and details were readjusted, to produce a better outcome.
The day ended off with the delivery of the steel sections, from Maristeel and other steel components, with which, Shaiks, the official welder of the project will make the shading devices for the community centre.

It was a short productive day that layed the groundwork, for the following week,where alot has to happen in a short period of time. Next weeks Build Day will be a busy one, needing many hands,and creative minds.















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