ALEXANDRA, one of Johannesburg's oldest townships, is turning 100 years in 2012. Nestled between the opulent suburbs of Sandton to the west and Modderfontein to the east, the township has grown to become a densely populated settlement inhabited by a cosmopolitan mix of people from around the country.

Largely ignored or disregarded for many years before the advent of democracy, an entrepreneurial spirit pervades the community of Alex, with spaza shops, street vendors and informal businesses flourishing. Also, a culture inextricably linked to it's rich heritage has also emerged, setting the township apart as one of Jozi's cultural hotspots.

It is time that the story of Alex is told.

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Longing for the old Alex
In days gone by, there was a sense of community in Alexandra. People were proud of their township. Sadly those days have gone, says an old timer.

Documenting Alex's history
A six-part documentary has been produced tracing the history of Alexandra, in the words of its people, in another celebration of its centenary.

A hundred houses for 100 years
In another project to celebrate Alex's centenary, a hundred houses will be built for the "oldest residents" of the township, Joburg's oldest black settlement.

Celebrating 100 years of Alex
It has been a turbulent 10 decades for Alex. The township that survived apartheid looks back on a hundred years, and turns to face the future.

Pan Africa combines it all
The mall is a puzzle put together by the architects to take foot traffic seamlessly from the taxi rank on the roof, to the shops in the centre.

Alex at 100: poor but vibrant
The luminaries who lived in the 'Dark City', the gangs that still roam there, the entrepreneurs and the migrants, the hubbub of daily life – a guided tour of Alexandra reveals them all.

Food garden planted in Alex
A childcare centre in Alexandra has a fruit and vegetable garden that is expected to add to food security for the community.