As crime continues in the Laudium/Erasmia area, many residents (seemingly besides their new praise singer, apartheid activist, Yusuf Abramjee) are once more asking, what role are both Cllr Naeem Patel and Laudium CPF chair, Shaheen Wahab playing, in bringing down crime in the area.
The pair who are staunch ANC members, hold key positions, with Patel also being part of the ANC’s PCO office, where he sits with members from the Gauteng Provincial Legislatures and those from Parliament, which is responsible for policing, health, housing, etc. Shaheen (shockingly) in turn, is not only the Laudium CPF chair, but is also the area CPF co-ordinator in the district, which includes Laudium and Erasmia and is also on Patel’s Ward Committee for Safety & Security.
This follows yet another crime reported to the Laudium Sun for stats purposes, which took place last Saturday night (Sept 27), at around 9:30pm, in Laudium Ext 3.
According to reports, it is believed that two ‘Indian looking’ thieves broke into the home of Osman Cassim on Kathmandu Street, ransacking the house. The thieves left the premises with their loot, without being spotted by the Police, the CPF Patrollers or the Gauteng Wardens (who also have a BMW paid by the taxpayer). A number of items were stolen including expensive jewellery and other household items, while the homeowner was not at home.
Osman told the Laudium Sun, “We were not at home when the theft took place. We left our house at around 7pm and returned at about midnight. When we got home, I found my bedroom completely turned upside down and wondered just what had happened. I then noticed that the front door had been broken. The thieves had jumped over the front gate and forced entry by breaking the door lock. They stole jewellery and a number of household items. When I later enquired from my neighbours if they had seen anyone suspicious near my house, one of my neighbours told me that at around 9pm, he saw two men looking like ‘Indians’ in my yard, but thought they were visitors, which I believe must have been the thieves, as we had no visitors at our house, while we were away for the night. This crime situation is really sad and frightening. To tell you the truth, I read about crime in the Laudium Sun, but never thought that it was actually happening at such a high level, until now that we have become victims of crime. We are no longer safe. Criminals are roaming freely on our streets and our law enforcement patrollers are not doing anything about it. They seem to only respond after the thieves are long gone. We need proper protection and regular police patrols, especially at night, because the moment thieves know no one is at home, they break in without fear.”
Ahmed Noorgat, another resident of Kathmandu Street, told the Laudium Sun, “Crime in Laudium, especially in Extension 3, is completely out of control. These criminals are operating freely and no one is stopping them. From drugs to break-ins, everything in our area is getting worse. We have complained so many times about the loud noises coming from the Itireleng squatter camp and the thieves who attack us, running back there or into the hills, but nothing has been done to close off the area. With so many break-ins happening on our street, I ask, where are the Police, where are the Security Patrollers? We cannot continue living in an environment where we feel any day could be our last. We need stronger protection and better service from our leaders.”
Magan Padayachy, also of Kathmandu Street, told the Laudium Sun, “There are a lot of break-ins happening in our area and many people have lost valuable belongings because of this. We really need stronger support and services from our local leaders. The police must also be more visible, especially at night. We need more patrolling in our area to prevent these crimes.”
