Alexandra residents queueing for food parcels, fed with rubber bullets

Hundreds of residents from the Alexandra township in Gauteng, on Tuesday 14, gathered near the Marlboro Gardens Secondary School waiting for food parcels. According to SowetanLive, the food parcels was never delivered and the residents, instead received, sprays of rubber bullets from police. 

Food parcels were delivered to the township on Saturday 11 April and more were said to be delivered on Monday 13 April. After waiting for a while to be helped on Monday, the residents were told to come back on Tuesday. 

Alexandra residents receive rubber bullets instead of food parcels 

Early on Tuesday, the South Africa Police Service (Saps) and JMPD police officers ordered the agitated community members to go back home as there were no food parcels to give to them.

The community made their way back to the informal settlement but later formed large groups to discuss their frustration. The police then used rubber bullets to disperse them, accusing the crowd of an illegal gathering as per the lockdown regulations.

Watch: Alexandra residents gather for food 

Residents of Alexandra are queing outside this school, they say they were told to come and collect food parcels #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/LOrpEVLIDz

— African Child (@ZikhonaTshona) April 14, 2020

Delivery of food parcels to be monitored 

Mayor of Johannesburg Geoff Makhubo, confirmed the incident.

“Afternoon residents of Johannesburg, I am visiting the Alexandra community today following the disturbing scenes of scores of resident queuing for food that was witnessed this morning,” he said.

“During our walkabout today, we came across this child-headed family of 20 kids that is faced with poverty. However, this isn’t the only family in Alex living in these conditions. Hence, [the] city along with the Department of Social Development will be intervening,” he added. 

“In addition, I’ve also directed the City of Joburg, government departments and entities responsible for the distribution of food parcels to compile a report on the delivery and extension of services, within Alexandra and other depressed communities across Joburg,” he added. 

Man beaten to death by the SANDF

In a separate incident, a man from the Alexandra township was allegedly beaten to death by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers on Saturday 11 April.

The Alexandra resident, identified as Collins Khoza, was allegedly beaten for being in possession of a bottle of beer according to Newzroom Afrika, who spoke to his widow.

Ward councillor for the area, Tefo Raphadu, also spoke to reporters about the incident which has angered the community.

“It is a very unfortunate incident that took place here,” Raphadu told Malungelo Booi of Newzroom Afrika.

“Yesterday, soldiers and JMPD [Johannesburg Metro Police Department] officers are the ones who perpetrated this gruesome beating that took place here. Unfortunately, Mr Khoza passed away due to the beating that he got. As you can see the community here is reeling because of this action that took place here last night.”