Alex students block road, burn tyres in protest

According to the ANC Youth League’s Marvin Tsotetsi, the protest will continue throughout Thursday, and is set to “intensify”. He says Alexandra community members have joined them and that they have been attempting to recruit more people.

The students main demands centre on the removal of Principal DJ April, who they say, along with other staff members, has been acting as principal beyond his allotted term. “We have been trying to get him removed for three years,” said Tsotetsi.

A small group of protesting students from the Central Johannesburg College in Alexandra have blocked roads leading in and out of the township with rocks, burning tyres and debris, demanding better services at the college. Pictures Tracy Lee Stark

He continued: “He has been impeding the growth of our school. Companies have come in and tried to develop our campus, he has been stopping them.”

The principal has also been accused of hate speech and of using racial slurs.

A small group of protesting students for the Central Johannesburg College in Alex have blocked roads leading in and out of Alex with rocks, burning tyres and debris, demanding better services at the college. Pictures Tracy Lee Stark