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WATCH: Alexandra Residents trash neighbourhood during shutdown
Johannesburg MMC for public safety Michael Sun arrived to address the residents but they refused to listen to him, chanting, 'We want Mashaba.'
Roads barricaded and blocked with burning tyres, as protesters demand better basic services. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
Alexandra came to total standstill today when residents took to the streets of the neighbourhood to protest for service delivery.
Community members had previously marched to Region E, where they did not get a response after handing over a memorandum seven weeks ago. Today they shut down the whole neighbourhood as they called on Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba to once again receive the memorandum.
READ MORE: Herman Mashaba responds to #AlexTotalShutdown protests
“In ward 105 the kind of problems we are facing around service delivery are water, electricity and rubbish removal,” said Lesego, a community member.
She continued that “these things of illegal structures are taking parks from our kids, our kids are supposed to be playing there, but now these illegal structures are affecting service delivery. As a community we end up fighting against each other because they are forcefully connecting water and electricity illegally.”
We also spoke to Prophet Paseka Mboro, who commented: “We don’t want to see the police and violence, we want to see people getting answers and change, and people living peacefully together. I’m here to support, I’m here to see change and I’m also here to make sure no one gets injured.”
Later, at the Gautrain station in Marlboro, Johannesburg MMC for public safety Michael Sun arrived to address the residents but they refused, chanting “we want Mashaba.”
According to Sowetan Live, Michael Sun said, “If there’s such a serious protest about service delivery, why wouldn’t the residents meet with me? I was insulted by one of the leaders who said I run a spaza department, therefore I’m not relevant to come and address the crowd.”
