Update: #AlexTotalShutdown protest flare up again
ALEXANDRA – March to Region E office in Sandton has been called off for now.
Update, 4 April, 10.04am
The Metro police are cleaning up tonnes of rubble on the streets of Alexandra after the #AlexShutdown protests which flared up on 3 April.
According to the latest reports, one of the organisers of the protest, Sandile Mavundla has called on protesters to disperse. Although the organisers suspended their planned march to the City of Johannesburg Region E offices in Sandton on Daisy Street, pending a community meeting on the 8 April, some parts of Alex are still affected by the protest action.
Update, 4 April, 9am
Schoolchildren are returning back home until the situation in the area goes back to normal. Some residents in parts of Alex have reportedly started blocking the roads. Meanwhile, residents of 17th Avenue and Vasco Da Gama Street have started gathering and blocking the streets with burning tyres.
Sandile Mavundla a community leader and one of the organisers of #AlexTotalShutdown said they were still engaging with the members of the community to cease street blockages. He said the shutdown will continue until the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba comes to address them. He said they were still engaging residents on a way forward.
Update, 4 April, 8.40am
Protest action appears to have flared up again. According to reports main routes in Alexandra which were mainly affected by illegal road closures, including Lenin Drive, Laduma Street and London Road.
Our journalist Nduduzo Nxumalo is there, more updates to follow.
Initial report, 4 April, 7.45am
According to organisers of the protest which brought Alex to a standstill on 3 April, their planned march to the City of Johannesburg Region E office on Daisy Street in Sandton has been suspended, pending a community meeting to be held on 8 April at Alexandra Stadium.
Alexandra residents protested among other things, poor service delivery, empty promises from the new administration and the high crime levels. Residents wanted Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba to receive their grievances as they refused to be addressed by MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun who visited the area as the mayor was unavailable.
During the protest, there was a heavy police presence as they fired rubber bullets to prevent the protesters marching onto the N3 highway, while businesses and schools shut their doors.
Due to the suspension of any further protest action, schools and business have returned to normal.
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Update: Alex protest leaders say they will take their protest to the City’s offices in Sandton
Mayor Herman Mashaba responds to #AlexTotalShutdown protests
