In pictures: Joburg's crowded township

In an effort to reduce overcrowding, the government put a moratorium on new shacks in Alexandra. But residents like Elijah Maphalla says this stops them from maintaining existing shacks.

"If you repair your shack they say you're building and they break it down," says Elijah. He has built his one-room shack in Alexandra because it is near his work as a security guard. The electricity that powers the fridge and lights used to be on a prepaid meter - someone rewired it so it is now free.