Mdantsane

Province

Mdantsane is a South African settlement in the Eastern Cape Province and about 20 kilometers north-west lying suburb of East London.

Development and urban structure

In the 1940s, it was very difficult for black workers to find in the expanding industrial city of East London adequate housing opportunities as the quarters provided for this purpose, for example, Duncan Village, were overcrowded. (: Sleep suburb about German ) to flank the growing demand for cheap labor with the necessary accommodation offerings in 1953 the first preliminary plans for a dormitory township developed. The municipality commissioned in 1954 for the urban planning tasks in charge with finding suitable land near Duncan Village, which is also found there. However, authorities of the national government level rejected this land use concepts, because the affected areas were placed under the reservation of a use by white residents. Then we examined other possible locations and decided to areas along the main roads leading into the interior on the grounds of the farm Umdanzani from the possession of white owners. These were declared a residential development area in 1958. Early planning saw here a settlement structure on the ideological basis of "neighborhood concept" as a garden city with many small urban centers, was being considered for one infrastructure with shops, educational institutions and churches.

On the basis of -driven post-1960 policy of border industry area ( German: Border Industrial Zone ) with a focus on the outer fringes of the Homelands to Mdantsane developed since 1966 gradually to a great replacement residential area, in the one in the non-white population of the district of East bank of East London framework relocated the policy of separate development forcibly. The official government Permanent Committee for the Location of Industry and the Development of Border Areas ( German about: Standing Committee on industrial sites and the development of border areas ) coordinated the planning policy for the creation of appropriate settlements for the required industrial workers. Mdantsane in today's expansion was developed in connection with the supported by the Industrial Development Corporation investment of the British textile corporation of Cyril Lord. This, 10 million rand for the construction of Tonwnship Mdantsane and the expansion of existing and further west, similar settlement Zwelitsha been provided from the South African government budget in the 1960s.

Mainly aiming at the labor demand at Cyril Lord, Mdantsane should include further black families from the urban area of East London. Finally, the authorities decided the gradual relocation of the entire population of the municipal township of Duncan Village. A part of the built small houses was additionally provided for the accommodation of families from the Western Cape region, for which it proved. In 1970 lived in Mdantsane after 1972 published statistics 66 380 people.

In Mdantsane is the second largest township in South Africa. The settlement was established in sectors that have been described in terms Unit and zone with the addition of letters and numbers.

In the apartheid period South Africa the place to the former Homeland Ciskei belonged. Their inhabitants were, and many of them are still (2009) low-wage workers in industrial firms in the port city of East London and the industrial area Fort Jackson.

To improve urban structures 2005, provided funds amounting to 15 million euro available from a program of the European Union. GTZ took over work planned with the support of KfW.

Demographic structure

In Mdantsane lived 2011 official 156 835 people ( 52.74 % female) in 43 694 households. Of these, many people have to live in informal accommodation. On the basis of studies but one expects 350,000 people living here. In Mdantsane are 25 to 30 percent of the residents of the Regional District Local Municipality Buffalo City, of which 27 percent are under 15 years old. The need for orphanages, nursing homes and facilities for people with disabilities of all kinds has not yet been approximately satisfied.

For health care exist ( to 2005) seven clinics and a hospital. These are not sufficient for the substantial medical problem location. It is estimated that at least three more clinics are needed. The rate of infection with HIV and the status of other diseases caused thereby is very high. In the settlement there is a high crime rate. The poorly developed social structure and lack of street lighting favors this condition.

Egerton Massacre

Between the township and the industrial zones with the jobs for the workers bus routes were established. As in 1983, bus fares should be increased by five cents, however, there were protests. This culminated on August 4, 1983 in a boycott of the bus lines and the people wanted an alternative and demonstratively use the leading past Mdantsane railway line to get to work. Military units attempted at all stations from Mdantsane to hold the protesting people of the train journey. When that did not work the troops, they fired on the masses. There were eleven dead and injured and missing persons. This event has gone down in the history of apartheid as Egerton massacre. The name of the event based on the name of one of these railway stations ( Egerton Station).

To preserve the memory of the Foundation Mdantsane Heritage Foundation organizes annual events, what priority officials and school classes to attend. There is a memorial with a memorial stone.

Traffic

On the northern edge of the settlement which developed to the motorway N2 national road running alongside it. In parallel to the motorway is the regional road R102, of which the main access road M3 ( Mdantsane Access Road ) branches off to the settlement.

Likewise, parallel is the railway line, which connects East London with King William 's Town. Mdantsane has three railway stops along this route. These are Mtsotso station, Mdantsane station and Mount Ruth station. Not far from here lies on the northwestern edge of the settlement Fort Jackson Station.