Mashatile’s Alexandra homecoming: Former teacher recalls his ’76 rebel days - News24

Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s door-to-door campaign in Alexandra on Wednesday took an unexpected turn when he knocked on the door of his former schoolteacher – a woman who still remembers the young firebrand nicknamed “Sayinyova” who led pupils out of classrooms ahead of the 1976 uprising.

The reunion saw Cindy Radley, who taught Mashatile at Alexandra High School, shift seamlessly between nostalgia and hard-hitting community advocacy, offering both praise and a stark reminder that Alexandra’s youth still lack basic opportunities nearly five decades after those historic protests.

“She still remembers his nickname, Sayinyova,” a campaign aide noted as Radley recounted how Mashatile used to take children out of class to join the protests that would define a generation’s resistance to apartheid.

When confronted with his rebellious past, Mashatile smiled and acknowledged: “I have toned down now.”

“I knew back then that you would be president one day,” she remarked, before the deputy president reflected on the debt politicians owe their educators.

“Many people don’t thank their teachers enough,” Mashatile said, thanking her for raising leaders like himself.

Radley admitted she had used corporal punishment on him and his generation – a practice now outlawed but once commonplace in South African schools.

The pleasantries, however, quickly gave way to pressing community concerns as Radley removed her metaphorical teacher’s cap and donned that of an Alexandra resident.

Her message was clear: while Mashatile and his generation fought for political freedom, today’s youth are fighting a different battle – one for space, skills and opportunities in overcrowded townships like Alexandra.

“Kids don’t have enough playing fields. They only have the streets,” she told the deputy president, pleading with him to ensure children are taken away from dangerous street corners and given proper sports facilities.

The frustration in her voice was palpable as she revealed she had been considering organising Alexandra’s youth to march to Mashatile’s office to demand sports fields.

It was a threat wrapped in the same activist spirit she once witnessed in her former pupil.

She also urged the government to teach young people practical skills, including building, paving and bricklaying – trades that could help them become economically self-sufficient.

Radley’s concerns about youth development stood in stark contrast to the litany of basic service-delivery complaints that Mashatile heard from other residents during his Alexandra walkabout.

Housing dominated the grievances, with residents saying they were promised homes and told their applications were approved, yet years later they remain in transit areas meant for temporary accommodation.

Mashatile acknowledged the problem was “worrying” and said both the executive mayor and deputy executive mayor had taken note.

“If it’s a transit area, people must not stay for years. They must stay for a short period and move to their permanent area. We will address that concern. It’s very important,” he said, adding that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi had assured him that trained personnel would be deployed to assist.

As the door-to-door campaign continues at Ekukhanyisweni VD in Ward 75, Zone 13, ANC Deputy President Cde Paul Mashatile expresses gratitude to a former teacher, acknowledging the role educators play in shaping lives and developing future leaders.#VoteANC2026… pic.twitter.com/LLGwnc84T1

Electricity and water infrastructure also featured prominently among residents’ complaints, with Mashatile highlighting the scourge of vandalism that affects service delivery.

“Joburg has outages every three days because of vandalism,” he said, noting that the acting minister of police would be in Alexandra on Thursday to address crime, including gender-based violence.

Mashatile’s visit came against the backdrop of a refuse collectors’ strike that has left rubbish piling up across Johannesburg.

He said meetings were scheduled for 14:00 on Wednesday to resolve disagreements over a pending agreement.

“We sincerely apologise to residents of Johannesburg, particularly in these areas, for the delay,” Mashatile said, adding that some staff had already returned to work and interim arrangements were in place to clear the backlog.

As the campaign trail winds toward the municipal elections, Mashatile sought to assure Alexandra residents that the ANC’s engagement wouldn’t end when voting closes.

“Even after this election on the fourth, the ANC will still be with you. The ANC will still come to your homes. We don’t come to people only to look for votes,” he said.

His message to ward councillors was blunt: “You must stay with the people all the time. It must not be that after they voted they don’t see you.”

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