An impassioned plea has been made to Alexandra residents and its leaders to restore their self-pride by embarking on one weekend of cleaning up of the township.
This appeal was made by Victor Rambo Mkhize, chairperson of Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association, Zone 13, Alexandra.
The township’s perpetual filth is said to have resulted in an infestation of rats, said to be in their millions and outnumbering residents.
“The rats just can’t be there if humans apply basic rules of good hygiene, environmental health and self-respect. We create and seem to revel in the filthy conditions which invite the rats at the risk of a major disease outbreak that can wipe us out,” he said.
Mkhize said Alex used to be the envy of many, but deteriorated rapidly with the mushrooming of shacks and the breakdown in the enforcement of laws on health, housing and crime. “We are just a jungle with no one interested and willing to regard themselves as humans. We do as we please, unconcerned about the implications of our actions. Hence the crimes, murders, rapes and hijackings which also have [become] normal as witnesses choose to turn a blind eye.”
He added that shacks continued to be erected without control. “Sadly, council seems without a plan to control the illegal constructions. Our condition is shameful, we are denigrated by residents of other places whenever they talk about Alex.
“They regard us as failures, with nothing to show except for the filth and complaints of failed service delivery, which results from our own actions of trashing soon after the municipal workers have cleaned the place.”
This, he said, discouraged visitors and tourists from visiting and savouring the township’s rich political, artistic, social history and diversity.
A date for the clean-up will be announced after feedback from residents and other stakeholders has been received.
