Alex protests continue as DA, ANC point fingers at each other

by | Apr 8, 2019

The #AlexShutdown protest saw residents march into Sandton to hand over a memorandum of demands on April 8, as parties continued to point fingers at each other.

However the memorandum was not received by the municipal director or the executive Mayor Herman Mashaba as residents requested.

Speaking to Local Voices, Alex FM reporter Malesela Mangena  said the protest has been postponed until Thursday, 11th April. He reported that organisers fear the protest may become chaotic and found it best to suspend the march as residents have become inpatient with the municipal office.

In response to the #AlexShutdown, Gauteng Premier  David Makhura announced on Twitter that President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the community of Alexandra on Thursday at Alex Stadium.

Responding to the Democratic Alliance’s claim that the African National Congress is inciting violence in Alex, he said the opposition is “blame-shifting” and not delivering to the community.

The ruling party’s  Tumelo Ramoshala said “the ANC is sharing the same sentiment as the community of Alexandra and raising out their own grievances over the dissatisfaction of service delivery.”

He adde it was unfortunate that Solly Msimanga, DA candidate for Gauteng Premier, was trying to shift attention from the issue of service delivery to its political opponents. 

Alex FM reporter Malesela Mangena describes events in Alexandra
Alex community vows to shut down Sandton

Alex community vows to shut down Sandton

by | Apr 5, 2019

As protests in Alexandra continued for the third day on Friday, residents expressed frustration at the failure of DA mayor Herman Mashaba to come and meet them and vowed to close down neighbouring Sandton on Monday.

The protests began in the early hours of Wednesday, April 3, when residents gathered in large numbers to protest against poor service delivery, illegal structures and lack of development in their community.

Roads were barricaded with tyres and rubble. It was reported that police dispersed protester with rubber bullets and teargas.

On Friday, Mashaba announced he would attend a meeting with the community on Monday at 10am. But residents gathered for a meeting expressed their dissatisfaction, and vowed to close down Sandton on Monday.  Shirley Mathakga, reporter at Alex FM attended the meeting and said residents were unhappy that the mayor was communicating with them via mainstream and social media rather than addressing them directly.

Alex FM reporter Shirley Mathakga reports