Alex community demands service delivery ‘war room’

The demand follows the failed meeting on Monday night at the Malboro Hall, where Mashaba was prevented from addressing members of the community.

Alex residents took to the streets two weeks ago to demand an end to illegal structures and air their anger over a lack of service delivery.

The mayor was set to deliver the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to residents.

However, residents refused to give Mashaba and Council Speaker Vasco da Gama an opportunity to address them, instead breaking into song and chants.

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Convenor of the movement, Sandile Mavundla, says they believe Mashaba's lack of consideration for the community speaks volumes.

"We found that the seating is based on the wards, that which ward will be given 30-30-30, man 20-20-20 people and then we thought that this is not a conference, we are not here to vote, we are here to deal with the issues. This is where things went out of hand. This is where the community revolt and said ‘no we are a part of this meeting’ and then they will get in inside.  Then in their mind that's when they said ‘no’, which means the mayor don't want to speak to us. That's when the community started to revolt and then they do a lot and its how this thing started to be out of hand. And then the meeting wasn't in Alexandra, it was in Malboro and then it was late in the evening. That was the cause of all of this thing."

Mashaba was given 14 days to respond to the memorandum submitted last night.

"It was even hard for us to submit the memorandum to the mayor because the people were howling at us, also booing at us. That's how it happened. The 14 days we are saying is from now. There must be a war room to deal with the issue of service delivery in Alexandra. That's what people are looking for, nothing else. That one is non-negotiable. Service delivery must be happening - potholes must be dealt with, where roads are not marked, roads must be marked, streetlights, cutting of the open spaces. A lot must be done,” Mavundla says.

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Meanwhile, Mashaba has blamed the ANC for the failed meeting, saying: "Without any doubt, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever. Read this document which I have made, go to the background on the people who were behind the Alexandra Renewal Project. Councillors involved in looting of state resources and these are the people who have been inciting our communities around this. I have instituted a forensic investigation, where we’ve had meetings with senior ANC members who have been working with the councillors.”

Mashaba’s office says the mayor is looking forward to further engagements with the community.

"At this point, the executive mayor continues to keep his door open in respect to community engagement," says Luyanda Mfeka, spokesperson for the mayor.

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