Alexandra Township used to be infested with gangsters. There were two gangs called the Spoilers and Msomi. They were very dignified and very intelligent. Each gang wanted to rule the township. There was rivalry between the two groups. The gangsters were armed with guns. Matured and attractive girls were their targets. If they wanted any girl, the girl could never say no; otherwise, she would be killed.
The police could never catch them because they were good in dodging them. Had they been caught, they would have been killed because the police of the time were instructed to shoot to kill. They were merciless.
The police demanded dompas from every male they caught. If you were not born in Alexandra, police used to come and demand a permit from you. The permit gave the holder of the permit permission to live in Alexandra temporarily. Those who didn't have proper documentation were ...
To read more on how the police handled the gangs at the time; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).
Friday, 25 August 2017
Friday, 11 August 2017
Chapter 18 - The Bus Boycott
Alexandra Township was a multicultural township. Shangaan, Zulu, Tswana, Pedi, etc. children played together. There was no segregation. It used to be fun and exciting. Our parents networked together. We knew our neighbours and interacted with them.
The men in our street, Fifth Avenue, formed a street-watch committee. They were known as civil guards. Every house had a whistle. In case of any trouble in the neighbourhood, a whistle was blown, and everyone would come out looking for culprits. There was a spirit of community.
Women used to belong to small groups called societies. They used to wear their uniforms. They attended these societies on Sundays.
During those times, people used to work in town, Johannesburg CBD (Central Business District). We used to board Putco buses to travel to town and other places such as Bramley, Rosebank, Sandown, and along Louis Botha Avenue. The bus fare was just three pence.
In 1957, Putco proposed an increase of one penny, from three pence to four pence. The community was furious and decided to boycott. The police were deployed in the township. They....
To read more on what the police did once they were deployed to stop the boycott; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).
The men in our street, Fifth Avenue, formed a street-watch committee. They were known as civil guards. Every house had a whistle. In case of any trouble in the neighbourhood, a whistle was blown, and everyone would come out looking for culprits. There was a spirit of community.
Women used to belong to small groups called societies. They used to wear their uniforms. They attended these societies on Sundays.
During those times, people used to work in town, Johannesburg CBD (Central Business District). We used to board Putco buses to travel to town and other places such as Bramley, Rosebank, Sandown, and along Louis Botha Avenue. The bus fare was just three pence.
In 1957, Putco proposed an increase of one penny, from three pence to four pence. The community was furious and decided to boycott. The police were deployed in the township. They....
To read more on what the police did once they were deployed to stop the boycott; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).
Friday, 4 August 2017
Chapter 17 - Schooling in Alexandra
In 1956, I went to Holy Cross School to start my Standard 6. However, I was refused admission because I came from a rural school. Standard 6 learners wrote an external examination. Most learners used to fail. The principal was afraid that I was going to increase the failure rate. I was instead demoted to Standard 5. My mother was upset by the decision. She tried to persuade me to go to Alexandra High School. I refused because I used to attend Holy Cross before moving to Pietersburg.
I passed my Standard 5 and was promoted to Standard 6, which I passed with flying colours. This proved that the education I received in Pietersburg was good. During that time, our family was blessed with twin girls, Magdeline and Angeline. It was a difficult time for us.
My mom needed assistance with the twins and so I used to help help her. When the babies got sick, I would help my mom take them to a doctor in Harrow Road, Johannesburg. We used a Putco bus to get there. She would...
To read more on what Rose and her mother used to do on the trip taking the twins to the doctor in Johannesburg; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).
I passed my Standard 5 and was promoted to Standard 6, which I passed with flying colours. This proved that the education I received in Pietersburg was good. During that time, our family was blessed with twin girls, Magdeline and Angeline. It was a difficult time for us.
My mom needed assistance with the twins and so I used to help help her. When the babies got sick, I would help my mom take them to a doctor in Harrow Road, Johannesburg. We used a Putco bus to get there. She would...
To read more on what Rose and her mother used to do on the trip taking the twins to the doctor in Johannesburg; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).
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