ANC Councillor Naeem Patel once more stands accused of using the plight of the oppressed people of Palestine, for his own selfish reasons.
This follows an open invite, reading, “Dear freedom loving South Africans. Commemoration of the 2nd anniversary of the Gaza bombing… Mobilise for human rights, equality and peace… Amplify the voices of the marginalised through peaceful activism, education and community engagement…
Solidarity March for Palestine, on Sunday, 12 October 2025 at 3pm, organised by the South African Friends of Palestine (SAFOP), in collaboration with various community organizations invites you to a pivotal gathering in Laudium… Tshwane Palestinian Solidarity Organisations.” The open invites were sent out via social media platforms which Patel controls or only on those platforms that are ‘favourable’ towards Patel.
Patel, asking residents to congratulate Dr. Moya of
ActionSA, who he also voted to be
Tshwane Mayor on 9 Oct, 2024.
On the platform that Patel created, he lists a number of organisations that are perceived to be friendly towards him or not a threat to him, that would be participating in the march. However, the seemingly devious Patel, once more divided the community, sowing discord, by not listing the ‘Concerned Community Forum’ whose members include the feisty Lushika Mooloo, on his list of participants.
Lushika has challenged Cllr Patel on many issues concerning poor service delivery in the Laudium/Erasmia area and more so on the new proposed demarcation. Patel is believed to have proposed or supported the inclusion of a portion where informal settlements have been established in Erasmia, which Lushika has vigorously opposed. Shockingly, despite calls for the community to unite for the march, Patel and the Laudium CPF Secretary, Mohammed Noor, removed ActionSA Councillor, Prajay Ramjay, from the ‘Laudium event’ group, which Patel created, regarding the pro-Palestinian march for Sunday. Prajay was then informed that he was not welcome to attend the pro-Palestine march on Sunday as a delegate. This decision taken by Patel and the CPF Secretary was because Prajay belonged to the ActionSA political party, amongst other political parties that support Israel.
This, despite Prajay openly supporting the plight of the Palestinians irrespective of his party’s views, having openly participated in previous pro-Palestinian marches and even carrying placards showing the atrocities carried out by the Zionist regime against the oppressed people of Palestine. What seems to be clear to many, is that Patel has been using the Palestine plight to promote himself and his ANC party within the community, in order to gain their votes during elections. Cllr Patel has come across by many residents as being devious, manipulative and dishonest in many of his actions. This follows the very same Cllr Patel who not only voted last year for the ActionSA Councillor, Nasiphi Moya, to become Mayor of Tshwane, but also warmly congratulated her and more so asked all his supporters and residents of Laudium and Erasmia to congratulate her. Yet, the very same Cllr Patel now has an issue with Prajay joining the march in support of Palestine.
Corporate and Shared Services in the Tshwane Council), wearing
scarves symbolizing support for Palestine, pictured with Naledi Pandor,
at a recent fundraising event in Erasmia.
the atrocities that Israel is
committing against the Palestinians,
stating ‘End the famine.’
Many residents have now called for the community to note Cllr Patel’s manipulative and dividing actions, with one resident, Haroon Ismail saying, “I am disgusted to say the least. Cllr Naeem Patel is clearly dividing the community for his own selfish reasons and to me he does not seem to be honest on the Palestinian issue. If he was, he would have criticized his own ANC party on their failure to close the Israeli Embassy and failing to impose trade and cultural sanctions against Israel. If Naeem truly cared for Palestine, he would have welcomed all willing to protest against Israel, irrespective of which political party they belong to.”
The Laudium Sun understands that a member of the local SAFOP, known as SH, has expressed his disgust with Naeem Patel, saying, “I was shocked to hear that Prajay was barred from taking part in the protest march. I do not trust Naeem and I do not believe he has a mandate to stop any person wanting to take part in the march in a peaceful manner.” *Attempts to get a comment from Kader Kurtha (KK), one of the organisers of the march and a ‘captured’ member of Cllr Patel’s Ward Committee and Cllr Patel, were unsuccessful.