Stakeholders must partner

A call has been made for the creation of a partnership between the private sector, government and property owners along with the community to rebuild Alexandra.

The call was made by the president of the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Galxcoc), Mpho Motsumi when he addressed guests at the opening ceremony of the new branch of Nedbank at Alex Mall.

Besides being a tenant in the new mall, Nedbank is the funders of the construction work of the mall. Motsumi paid tribute to the financial muscle invested by the bank, saying ‘it believed in me and my partners and hence they had made the Alex dream come true’.

“I appeal to them to continue this partnership and take it to another level. I would like to see Nedbank partnering with us again to change the face of Alex. Alex is yearning for change and the time has come for the private sector and government to partner with the property owners and the community in giving birth to a new Alex,” Motsumi said.

Motsumi said the people of Alexandra were not looking forward to a donation but a partnership which will be a win-win situation for all involved. “I don’t want you to give us a fish but instead teach us how to fish in order to sustain ourselves forever.”

He said the beautiful Jukskei runs through Alexandra to leafy areas of Sandton and ‘if that river is not taken care of through its Alex journey, it could become poisonous for the affluent areas’.

“I know of people who steal and rob, not because they’re professional thieves and hardened robbers, but they’re desperate people who think that could be their only way out of poverty, unemployment and desperation.

“We have huge numbers of youth in this township who sit and loiter with degrees and other qualifications which can be useful in growing our economy to create more job opportunities. I think we just need to unlock this vault and allow the money to do its work and transform the face of Alexandra for good.”

He said the partnership he was talking about would help turn over a new leaf of social transformation, integration and cohesion. “If we don’t do that, we shall forever live behind high walls and not enjoy the very wealth we have created.

“Look at how much Sandton spends on security – high walls, electronic security systems, armed guards and everything but they still get mugged and robbed. I think the time has come for a dialogue about Sandton and Alex working together for the mutual betterment of both communities.

“If we don’t engage each other in this conversation, we can then resign ourselves to a life of fear, thuggery and robbery. If we don’t resolve this we shall forever be scared and always looking [over] our shoulders in fear,” he said.

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