Diepsloot, Afrikaans for "deep ditch", is a densely populated township in the north of Johannesburg. It is located in the newly formed Region A (formerly regions 1 and 2). It is made up of fully government-subsidised housing (Extensions 4, 5, 6, 9, 10), brick houses built by landowners (Extensions 2 and 7), partially government subsidised houses (Extension 3/Tanganani) as well as shacks (the biggest sections being Extensions 1, 12 and 13). A large proportion (45,5%) of residents rent their property from a landowner who has subdivided their stand.HistoryDiepsloot township is not far from the wealthy suburbs of Dainfern and Chartwell, and was established in 1995 as a transit camp for people who had been removed from Zevenfontein (informally known as eSgodiphola). 1124 plots were made available. People were to stay in the transit camp until land elsewhere became available. For many, this camp became a permanent home. The Transvaal Provincial Administration, which was then the local authority, developed the plots into formal housing stands. In 1999, the former Northern Municipality Local Council began to initiate formal development in the area. There were about 4000 families living in backyard shacks and 6035 families in the reception area, a transit zone established by the city council, says Alan Kitchin, the special projects assistant director in the City of Johannesburg's housing department.To compound the congestion, in 2001 the Gauteng government moved about 5000 families to Diepsloot from the banks of the Jukskei River in Alexandra. The move, part of the Alexandra Renewal Project, was intended "to de-congest and address the need to create a healthy and clean living environment" in Alexandra, one of South Africa's oldest townships. The aim was also to prevent shacks being washed away when the river flooded, something that happened year after year. The influx of people from Alexandra placed further strain on the already stretched resources in Diepsloot. The relocated families did not qualify for housing benefits.
