The ANC’s Andrew Radebe branch in Ward 116 has distanced itself from the destruction of property at the Pan Africa Mall and surrounding businesses including the Alex Plaza, saying people should desist from committing criminal acts in the name of the party.
Branch secretary Siyanda Xabanisa spoke to Alex News outside the mall when he and his colleague pitched up to do their part as members of the community in cleaning up the mess of the more than a weeklong of mayhem and looting of shops at both the Pan Africa Mall and the Alex Plaza Shopping Complex.
“We are here not to only clean up the mess but to voice our disdain at what happened here in the past week which resulted in the looting of shops and the total destruction of the two shopping malls, Pan and the Alex Plaza and other shops in the vicinity and inside Alex as well.
“We are also part of the community members, sober and responsible ones, and anarchy like this does not reflect the mentality of the people of Alexandra. We are saying this will not happen in our name, the name of the ANC. We say no to looting, and if people have grievances, they need to use the available channels to air those grievances.”
Xabanisa added that the destruction does not only affect the owners of the businesses but also affects the entire community. “We no longer have close places to go and shop. If you need bread you will now have to board a taxi and go to other areas and that will mean you are buying that at twice or four times its price, counting the money for return taxi fare.
“People must think before they loot and consider the long-term after-effects and ramifications of their actions. When the looted food runs out, what will they do and where will they buy it from going foward. This is what we came out to defend and to voice the message with our clean-up.”
One of many other outraged community members was Alex businesswoman Rachel Phasha, who said what happened in the township in the past week was not on. “I hope people have learnt their lessons too and will never, ever repeat it again.”
Phasha, who owns Khavha Tours, a longstanding travel and tourism business in the township, said their clean-up campaign started on July 15, and they have been coming to clean up ever since and will there again today [July 17].
“When the whole looting saga broke out, I was heartbroken from the very first day and wondered whether people, who so loved Alex, could turn out to be the same ones destroying it. We cannot use hunger as an excuse and people must learn to take ownership for their actions,” she added.
Phasha urged the community to close ranks and protect these assets if threatened in future. “We cannot fold our arms and watch hooligans destroy our lives before our very eyes.”
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