ANC
*ANC Statement, 25 September 2012* *Centenary of Alexandra Township*The African National Congress salutes the people of Alexandra on the centennial celebration of one of the oldest townships in the country. The history of Alexandra is intertwined with that of the ANC as it was a site of earlier struggles after the formation of the organisation.It is not a mistake that both are celebrating 100 years this year.
In its 100 years, Alexandra has not only survived attempts to shut it down but has emerged as a heritage of the undying spirit of its inhabitants in their fight against forced removal and racial oppression.
Alexandra has not only been a refuge and place of survival under the atrocious conditions of apartheid and its draconian laws, but a breeding ground for past and future revolutionaries of our struggle. It has in its history that it bred generations of leaders that played and continue to play a meaningful role in the political and other societal spheres. Amongst its inhabitants were stalwarts like Nelson Mandela, Moses Kotane, Thomas Nkobi, Joe Modise, Joe Nhlanhla and Alfred Nzo. It also produced luminaries like Kelepile Taunyane, Gcina Mhlophe, Wally Serote, Zakes Nkosi, Ntemi Piliso, Peter Sephuma and Irvin Khoza.
It was in Alexandra where some of our historic struggles were pioneered including the bus boycotts, women's struggle and bitter resistance resulting in the six days war where the community of Alexandra took the police and the army head-on in the 1980s.Alexandra ranks amongst the townships that were singled out by the erstwhile apartheid regime as a thorn on the side of apartheid. In response to its high mobilization and activism, Alexandra suffered the brunt of selective development and neglect by the erstwhile regime.
For 70 years under neglect of apartheid, it had no electricity which earned it it's name of 'dark city', lack of sanitation and lack of clean water. This did not dampen the fighting spirit of its inhabitant but contributed to its militancy.
The ANC believes that Alexandra should form the centre-piece of development in the North of Johannesburg. The history of South Africa will be incomplete without the rich history of Alexandra!
*_Issued by_**:****** **Jackson Mthembu****** **National Spokesperson****** **African National Congress****** **Chief Albert Luthuli****** **54 Sauer Street****** **Johannesburg****** ****** **_Enquiries_**:****** **Keith Khoza, 082 823 9672 * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
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