wassup diepsloot

WASSUP [Water, Amenities, Sanitation Services, Upgrading Program] is a community based program that repairs and maintains communal ablution facilities in Diepsloot’s Extension 1, home to an estimated 50,000 people living in shacks (www.wassupdiepsloot.com).  WASSUP was an initiative of Global Studio Johannesburg 2007-2009 (www.theglobalstudio.com) when students of GS proposed solutions to reduce the pollution of the Jukskei river that runs through the centre of Diepsloot.  One of these proposals was a simple bucket drain system that decreased the blockages and retarded water flow through a sewer network that was never designed to carry such a load.  WASSUP was formed as a steering committee mid 2009 (representing community leaders and minority groups), began the repair phase March 2010, the implementation phase May 2010, and in December 2010 registered as a formal co-operative.

WASSUP now has a partnership with the City of Johannesburg (including Johannesburg Water), facilitated by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and are in planning to expand their program.  SEDA are currently providing training.

WASSUP partner with local artists through the Diepsloot Arts & Culture Network [DACN] in creating awareness programs,  providing ‘edutainment’ in the form of street performance, and workshop the decoration of toilets with resident children.

on the web

City of Johannesburg web article     Global Studio Johannesburg

special thanks to:

Dr Anne Fitchett, Thorsten Deckler 2610 South Architects

partners

WASSUP Diepsloot, Diepsloot Arts & Culture Network, Sticky Situations, Global Studio, City of Johannesburg, JDA, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg Water.

sponsors 2011

New York trip: Global Studio, Sticky Situations, Sign Serve, Jetline Parktown.
We also acknowledge support from the South African Research Chair in Development Planning and Modelling funded by the National Research Foundation.

sponsors 2010

Global Studio, Cash Build, Pennyware Distributors, Cobra, Jacks Paint, Hlanganani Engineers, Lafarge Cement, Bentel Architects, Kagisano Printers.