Community comes together to clean up Freedom Market
ALEXANDRA – What you are doing is a memorable thing and it will not be forgotten, says Ruele
Having cleaned up Boxer Superstore, Pan African Shopping Centre and the streets of Alex as part of #RebuildSA, Scientology volunteer ministers continued on their journey to rebuild Alexandra on July 27.
The volunteer ministers and community members of Alexandra launched a new project to clean up Freedom Supermarket, a very well-known supermarket in the area.
Greeted by the destruction of the once buzzing supermarket, they began to clear most of the debris that covered the floor of the store.
“Seeing this place like this was really heartbreaking. It saddens me to see this one buzzing hub for the community reduced to mere walls. “Sitting by and feeling sorry will not get the job done. That is why I am here today to rebuild my community,” said Phineas Ramakgasa, a volunteer minister.
The volunteers arrival in the early morning was met with gratefulness from the co-owner of the supermarket Luis Freitag. He said, “What you do is revitalising the community.”
Their sweat and toil did not go unnoticed and following their return the next day, they were met with more community support to help clean up their beloved store.
The vice-president of the We Love Alexandra community project, Lawrence Ruele also pitched in.
He said, “This place was destroyed. What you are doing is a memorable thing. No, it will not be forgotten. Hope is being restored to the community through your efforts. I thank the volunteer ministers.”
The NPO Meals on Wheels provided lunch for all the volunteers, demonstrating yet again the values of ubuntu ingrained in the culture of South Africa.
The clean-up project in Alex has gained support from the community as part of a countrywide effort under the banner of #RebuildSA after the mess left behind the recent unrest.
