By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-In-Chief
news@alexreporter.co.za
Alex Mafia, as Shadrack Mkhonto is affectionately called, will no longer be involved in Alex politics as a result of the new task set up under his ActionSA party which got him a new political ground
” As such, I am stepping down as the Branch Campaign Manager of Ward 105 and such means I won’t be involved in Alex politics any longer.
“As you all know that ActionSA is growing day by day, I have been deployed in Midrand to look over 5 wards as a political head to ensure that the wards grow in terms of the numbers and contribute sufficient outcomes to the 2024 polls,” says the Black Mamba.
Alex Mascot says this is a positive shift and a new political ground for him after having been involved in Alex politics since 1986.
“The shark never outgrow its environment and for it to grow, it has to change the environment. So it is a new challenge to tackle and succeed.
“ASA2024 is a big project that we all have to contribute towards it enormously to ensure that ActionSA makes a big impact on the political landscape of our country.
“It is for these reasons that I got to step down from being the Branch Campaign Manager of Ward 105 to fully focus on the wards given to me to head over them.
“As of the 1st of April 2022, I will officially commence my duties in my new political ground, that is the effective date for my stepping down,” he says.
However, that is nothing new for him in politics. He was deployed as COM in 2007 under his previous political home (DA) to ensure that the wards in Alex were effective and grow.
“That is where the birth of DA came into this township. With that experience KB, I will battle with it in my new political ground to ensure that ActionSA grow rapidly there.
“I thank all the Alexandrians who have been with me in Alex politics and supported me.
“It is them who made me popular in this kasi la Maroto (Gomora) and named me the mayor of Alex due to how I was addressing their service delivery issues without borders here in Alex effectively.”
Mkhonto is the same leader who coordinated the subsequent education of young people and students who dropped out of university because of a lack of financial support and poor background.
He has negotiated with banks, Seta, Wits, and helped over 600 young people around Alexandra benefit from this project in 2018.
And over 400 students have graduated with degrees, diplomas and some of whom have gone through levels 5, 6, and 7.
Mkhonto is known as a people’s person, hence the name ‘councilor without borders’. Everywhere he goes, the residents call him the Mayor of Alex.
He is arguably the fastest, most efficient and accessible leader or someone who works hard to ensure that residents, regardless of their political affiliation, get help.
He supported Alexandra’s residents by suspending the court order in 2000. He also fought and stopped the dispute between tenants and landlords in extensions 9 and 10 in 2011/23/13/14.
After that, he took the matter to the public protector and succeeded in putting an end to the fight between the landlords and the tenants.
“During a disaster in Alexandra, I helped get those affected by the fire to rebuild their shacks.
“I organized donations of equipment for fire victims without any problems. I have never given priority nor examined their political affiliation.
“I have managed to ensure that residents of Alexandra get the services they deserve when problems are reported to me.”
During the lockdown, the Alex Mafia has helped over 2,000 with food packages from his private and government donations.
