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UNAWARE: Obed Bapela

BLAMED: Paul Mashatile

Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (Alpoa) and Alexandra Property Owners' Rights (Apor) have accused both politicians - who also come from the township - of meddling and frustrating the process that was launched in May.

Also, an organisation representing local business people said it had also pulled out of the event because of political interference.

The Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce's Sello Manyape said yesterday they had written "a letter of disengagement" to the Alexandra Centenary and Heritage Association (Acha), which Bapela heads, and the Greater Alexandra Development Forum, which had also wanted to be part of the celebrations.

"We cannot afford to associate with processes from which the people of Alexandra are left out," Manyape said.

Alpoa's Jacky Segopa said Bapela had pledged to facilitate the handing over over of 100 title deeds to property owners when he approached the chamber asking to be part of the event. Segopa said Bapela is now avoiding meeting the property owners.

Apor's Vakele Mbalukwana said: "We received a copy of a draft agreement on June 12 when the signing was supposed to have been on June 11. Our name had been misspelt. We wrote back and told them we considered it an insult."

Bapela said he was not aware of the intention of these organisations to pull out of the event. He admitted that Acha had approached community organisations proposing that they hold joint celebrations.

"We also agreed on the carnival in which the people of Alexandra would parade in the streets. Alexandra is a national heritage site because it turns 100 years this year," Bapela said.

Mashatile's office was still considering a request for funding. - xabav@sowetan.co.za

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Sun May 19 18:26:57 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 23, 2012

Sinudeity_

Probably want to turn it into an ANC electioneering event.
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Aug 23, 2012

RobinH

Doing the "Sharpeville-was-an-ANC-thing" again. Yet another attempt to co-opt everything under the banner of the ANC.
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Aug 23, 2012

candilious

@Sin/Robin -Morning .............Carnival nogal indeed another way to exploit the poor people aaaaai
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Aug 23, 2012

Sinudeity_

candilious - Morning candi!
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Aug 23, 2012

RobinH

Candi. Hiya. Mwah. lol
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Aug 23, 2012

KaNnete

Mashatile is the Capo di tutti capi of the Alex cosa nostra so I dont know what people expect him to do.
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Aug 23, 2012

Lehido

This Paul thinks he is untauchable - have you noticed that?
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Aug 23, 2012

RobinH

Lehido, as is the case with ALL the ANC top brass!
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