By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The community in Alex at ward 116 has made a pledge to clean up their environment. If you walk around Alex around 5 am daily, you will see residents cleaning their streets with passion, dedication, and joy!
They emulated Lawrence Ruele, who gathered community members on 13th Avenue and started cleaning their streets on a daily basis.
Asked how it all started, Ruele said,” Honestly, seeing uBab’ Linda Twala’s house and how it’s an oasis, inspired me to start cleaning Alexandra. But also his stories of how he was the first black person in South Africa to be awarded a cleaning contract inspired me.
“It started in 2021 with my first act of kindness which was to revamp and revive uBab’ Linda Twala’s centre at 53 – 2nd Avenue. It had become a derelict and abandoned building. I was then at the forefront of cleaning Pan Africa Mall, Boxer, Alex Plaza and 2nd Avenue after the July unrest.
“That then grew to hating how my street looked, especially when I invited my friends from outside Alex. So I took it upon myself to start by fixing the pavement on my doorstep which then grew to me adopting from John Brandt to Hofmeyr, and donating more than 1400 bags of cement and about 3 tons of concrete slabs, which the community used to beautify the entire street.
” Together we created gardens, braai stands and benches (this then attracted the corporate world.)
To date we have installed cameras donated by our friends at AWE, launched a community safety app with the same company, and painted sidewalks.”
He said, together with his family members and neighbours, they do their best to keep their streets clean daily, with dedicated areas for trash and clear communication for rubble removal through his ward 116 group chat.
“The primary objective is to show the world that Alexandra isn’t just a dustbin where people can come and dump their rubble and garden refuse. That we are a bunch of sane, caring individuals that just need a little help.
” So far, we have many different blocks from 2nd Avenue to 22nd. We are still engaging with the community. It will be a long, yet fruitful process.”
Asked if there were any benefits after cleaning their streets, he said, “We are volunteers who often don’t even get a thank you. There are may benefits from living in a clean area.
“The number of rats decline, petty crime decreases, community morale increases and this leads to businesses opening and growing, creating jobs, bringing in investment. The benefits are endless. Volunteering heals your soul.”
According to him, the challenge was the lack of resources. “Everything from plastic bags, brooms, heavy duty gloves, overalls, building material, cleaning material and getting the youth to join us in cleaning, instead of watching their mothers and fathers doing it.”
Ruele said the Kasi Yethu – Alexandra Block by Block Initiative has a number of stakeholders. He said the City of Johannesburg – Region E has offered their support and have recognised residents involved.
“Councillor Marema’s Office has been an astute supporter of all of our efforts by helping to contact the many structures such as City Power, JRA, Joburg Water, Pikitup.
“They have all come to the party, and try their level best, with their very limited budgets and resources. I implore the Rosebank, Parkview, Sandton, Marlboro, Buccleuch, Kew, Modderfontein,Glenhazel, Linksfield, Rietfontein, Midrand, Wynberg business and resident’s associations to come to our rescue and open their doors for the Mother of All Townships.
“To all the hardworking residents of Alexandra, may God give them strength and perseverance. May doors open for all sectors: Education, Elderly, Disabled, Unemployed, Disenfranchised single mothers.
“Lastly, may we please keep our Kasi clean and safe. Alexandra is not a zoo. #CleanYourStoep!”
For more information, please contact Ruele on 0836223736.
