Mashaba to meet Alexandra residents over community grievances

Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba has confirmed his visit to Alexandra township today, regardless of the fact that ANC councillors decided to boycott a service delivery meeting on Friday and despite the ruling party’s support for the #AlexTotalShutdown movement.

Mashaba said this lack of interest shown by the ANC was a clear sign that the ruling party was not interested in finding meaningful solutions to Alex’s service delivery problems.

“Clearly, this demonstrates a lack of interest by the ANC to find solutions to subdue the discontent and bring much-needed change for our most indigent residents,” said Mashaba.

He said today’s meeting would form part of the scheduled engagements with the people of Alexandra on their grievances.

On Thursday, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the area and addressed thousands of residents, promising to build them one million houses over the next five years.

Ramaphosa also promised to remove illegal structures and revive the controversial multibillion-rand Alex rejuvenation project, despite allegations that the money had been squandered by the ANC when it was still in charge of the City of Joburg.

Mashaba said the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which attended Friday’s meeting as an interested party, would probe historical and current challenges to the city’s response to service delivery matters in Alexandra under both the ANC and DA-led administrations.

“I welcome the SAHRC’s intention to probe historical and current challenges to the city’s response to service delivery matters in Alexandra under both parties.

“I trust that the commission’s engagement with city manager Ndhivosani Lukwareni, former MEC for housing Uhuru Moiloa and national government will finally uncover where the funds for the R2.5 billion Alexandra renewal project were directed,” said Mashaba.

He said his administration would follow the proceedings closely and continue to improve service delivery and combat the ANC legacy of looting of initiatives like the Alexandra renewal project which could have improved the lives of the residents of Alexandra.

“In the meantime, I look forward to engaging with the people of Alexandra on their grievances on Monday.

“Unlike previous engagements with the community, I look forward to being able to discuss the many historic challenges faced by them against a backdrop of available resources and city plans aimed at addressing those needs, particularly through the proposed budget,” said Mashaba.

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