Diepsloot

Diepsloot is a densely populated Township in the north of Johannesburg, South Africa. 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). These shacks are built on any piece of land with nothing already on it. Some landowners charge rent to others to stay in a shack on their land

Diepsloot West 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). Here, 1124 plots were made available. People were to stay in the transit camp until land 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 development. There were about 4 000 families living in backyard shacks and 6 035 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.