Urban regeneration and small scale enterprise development

Abstract

The Alexandra Renewal Project deals with economic empowerment by providing development support to small-scale enterprises in order to support local markets in job creation and sustainable economic growth. The project involves bringing disadvantaged groups into the economic mainstream and also creating sustainable livelihoods for Alexandra Township. The study examines the Alexandra Renewal Project, the City of Jo’burg Council and the Gauteng Department of Housing as they address the challenge of managing developmental changes and implementing the Alexandra Renewal Project for Small Scale Enterprise development in Alexandra Township. The aim of the study was to determine what has happened since the ARP started in 2001 addressing small-scale enterprise development in Alexandra Township. A structured interview questionnaire was used comprising five questions that dealt with the respondents’ perceptions, knowledge and views on what has changed since the inception of ARP to small-scale enterprise. There were ten respondents from Alexandra Township. The main findings of the research revealed that small-scale enterprises have not yet benefited from the ARP as envisaged by the initiators of the project.