The local community was highly involved defining site and structure through workshops with different organisations and the set up of a construction team. A used container has been converted into a office and kitchen aswell workshop space.

The structure servers as a meeting place and information point for the community and is providing shelter while waiting for transport in the centre of the divergent Township Magagula Heights.

exhibition at the taxi rank container

image: marlene wagner | some rights reserved

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Magaguala Heights itself covers an area of about 47 ha providing living space for about 5000 inhabitants of different backgrounds and income strategies. Around 1500 households can be devided into 4 diffrent sections visualised by different housing typologies and layout.

It has been an informal settlement but gained township-status in 2003. Like many of the poor areas in Gauteng the Community has a conflictual history driven from the Apartheid-regime and the transformation process. The settlement history and layout display the typical dependence relations driven from missing rights, non existent social infrastructure and labour exploitation.

The area is part of development plans of the Municipality and the high unemployment rate but the good social fabric are the source to create sustainable benefits to go along with the implementation and programming of the communal meeting point.

cueing for the taxi

image: marlene wagner | some rights reserved

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