Ward 76 councillor Zandile Mothupi recently led residents of Alexandra in a Human Rights Community Walk, an initiative she insists was not partisan but rather a collective effort to confront social ills and promote unity.

The walk, held during Human Rights Month, was designed to remind residents of the freedoms enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution while encouraging them to stand together against challenges such as unemployment, gender–based violence, and fractured community relations. Yet, turnout was lower than expected, something Mothupi described as concerning.

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“This was meant to unify the community. Already, we are seeing division among the community, and we do not want that,” she explained. “That is why I made sure I wore government regalia. Everybody was allowed to wear whatever they wanted.”

The initiative began earlier in March, when Mothupi visited local early childhood development centres to rally support and build momentum for future community–driven projects. Her vision was to create an environment where residents could speak openly, even about personal struggles that seldom surface in formal meetings.

“We have households that are headed by children. These things do not come up in meetings. In public meetings, people are unable to tell me some of these things,” she said. By walking together in a more relaxed setting, she hoped residents would feel free to share experiences and challenges that often remain hidden.

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Beyond fostering dialogue, the walk was also about promoting human rights and social justice. Mothupi highlighted the everyday struggles many in Alexandra face, pointing to unemployment and gender-based violence as pressing issues that demand collective action.

She urged residents to see initiatives like the walk as equally important as service delivery protests. “It should not only be when there are service delivery issues such as electricity problems,” she said.

While participation fell short of expectations, Mothupi remains committed to building unity in her ward. She believes that consistent community-driven initiatives, especially during Human Rights Month, can tackle division in the community.

The Human Rights Community Walk may not have drawn the numbers hoped for, but it set the tone for future efforts and made Mothupi’s message clear that Alexandra’s strength lies in its ability to come together, not only in times of crisis, but in everyday struggles for human rights.

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