This response addresses a post by Firouz Dockrat, CPF SSF Sector 1 Head, circulated on the Erasmia Sector 1 Group on 5 September 2026, following a CCF article directed at political parties and published in the Laudium Sun on 3September 2026.
As the matters raised are of public interest and concern the broader community, the CCF has opted to respond on a platform accessible to all residents.
The post directed raises several additional questions which Firouz believes should be addressed:
CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING THE ANC
- Corruption and Local Accountability – What is the Dawood Essop Branch doing to address corruption, what action has been taken, and is corruption an issue within Ward 61?
- Ageing and Failing Infrastructure – When will Ward 61’s ageing 1950s/1960s water and electricity infrastructure finally be upgraded? Residents are asking when they will have new water pipes, a reliable utilities network and electricity that does not fail with the first heavy wind, instead of continued service failures caused by ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance and neglect.
- The call is simple: publish the infrastructure plan, the timelines and the budget allocations. Show residents the plan – not another promise.
CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
The concerns raised regarding the DA centre around two key issues:
- Religious Freedom – Concerns are raised about the DA’s alleged past opposition to mosques and the call to prayer in previously Afrikaans areas. Residents are seeking assurance that they will be able to build religious institutions and practise their faith, including the call to prayer will be protected in Ward 61.
- Presence and Commitment to Ward 61 – The DA is accused of not visiting Ward 61 while in power yet is now highly visible as elections approach. Residents ask: Why now, and will the DA disappear again after the election?
CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING ACTIONSA
The concerns raised regarding ActionSA centre around three key issues:
- Councillor Performance and Taking Credit
- The ActionSA PR Councillor is accused of taking credit for Municipal work done by others, raising questions about his actual delivery.
- Private Business and Potential Conflict of Interest – Whether the Councillor’s private security business conflicts with his responsibilities to residents.
- Treatment of Businesses: Concerns are raised about ActionSA’s approach to businesses in Marabastad, where businesses were reportedly raided or shut down without due process, and whether Ward 61 businesses could face similar treatment or Indian-owned businesses could be unfairly singled out.
CONCERNS RAISED TO ALL WARD CANDIDATES
Broader concerns are raised for all Ward 61 candidates to address:
- Crime and Community Safety – What is your position on crime, what have you done to date, and what is your plan to address it?
- How will you engage with SAPS and other safety structures to improve policing and make communities safer?
- Illegal Immigration and Overcrowding – What is your position and how will you lawfully address this?
Firouz Dockrat said: “The underlying request is simple: before residents cast their votes, every candidate should clearly state where they stand and what they intend to do about these concerns”.
RESPONSE FROM THE CONCERNED COMMUNITY FORUM (CCF)
Your concerns are valid and certainly warrant appropriate responses, therefore in the interest of fairness and transparency, we have approached both the Democratic Alliance and the ActionSA Councillors for their responses to the matters raised.
THE CCF WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS OF OUR OWN:
Clarity required regarding the ANC Branch – We are aware that the Dawood Essop ANC Branch office is based in Itireleng. Kindly clarify whether any Branch Executive members are from Laudium, Claudius, Erasmia, Christoburg or Gerhardsville, to provide residents with assurance that Ward 61’s communities are fairly represented within the Branch.
Corruption and Local Accountability- This matter is of grave concern, yet feedback remains selective and appears to differ depending on the audience. Given your ANC involvement and close association with Councillor Patel, you are well placed to provide the very answers you are now seeking publicly.
Ageing and Failing Infrastructure – We highlight just some Laudium Sun articles documenting residents’ repeated pleas over Ward 61’s “dinosaur-era” infrastructure and appeals to the Ward Councillor. You may not have seen these, as you instructed that Laudium Sun publications not be shared on your WhatsApp group.
07 November 2025 – CCF lambasts Cllr Patel after report back meeting used as vengeance against opponents…Patel warns Cllr Prajay and others, “only I have the authority” ……**
21 November 2025 – Rainy weather dries up ….…calls to replace aging electricity infrastructure
05 December 2025 – Calls again for upgrade of infrastructure as power failure due to powerful rain……
30 January 2026 – Water Crisis…residents complaining about poor service delivery from ANC-led Council
30 January 2026 – CCForum places City of Tshwane on Notice over Infrastructure Collapse…**
06 February 2026 – H2-woe…water woes wash over Laudium, leaving taps dry and tempers high
20 February 2026 – CCF …solicits sole response from City on Ward 61 Infrastructure crisis**
27 February 2026 – CCF Ward 61 – Service Delivery & Governance Concerns….
25 June 2026 – Ward 61 residents demand answers ……. over Petition Committee proceedings
These articles reflect the lived realities of Ward 61 residents, yet the concerns repeatedly go unanswered, with little accountability. Even quarterly City feedback meetings have, in our experience, become platforms for attacking residents and PR Councillors rather than addressing service delivery (7 November 2025). When residents protested and met City officials over failing infrastructure (30 January and 20 February 2026), Councillor Patel did not support these CCF-coordinated initiatives. Surely, regardless of who leads an initiative, if it benefits residents, elected representatives should support the community – not fight those trying to get the problems addressed.
Nevertheless, the concerns you have raised are relevant to residents, and the community is equally entitled to the answers – from the ANC Branch.
CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
This is yet another contradiction on your part.
You asked: What have candidates done to address rising crime, and what is their plan to work with SAPS and other safety structures to make Ward 61 safer?
As an Erasmia CPF Executive Member, you would agree that fighting crime requires all stakeholders. Yet, during Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia’s Ward 61 visit (Laudium Sun, 20 August 2026), the CCF, PR Councillors, security companies and certain religious groups were excluded.
So, when candidates are now asked for their crime plans, we must ask: why were key role players excluded from such important engagements? And are they being set up for failure?
Following the 26 June 2026 Parliamentary Police Portfolio Committee oversight visit to the Erasmia Police Station, which included DA MP Ian Cameron, serious concerns were raised about poor police mobility at Erasmia SAPS and alarming crime levels in Mooiplaas. Yet, you lodged a formal complaint over photographs from the visit being circulated without CPF Executive approval. Surely the priority should have been the serious policing failures highlighted by Ian Cameron and the Committee – not the photographs – and how these failures would be addressed.
**Laudium Sun 02 July 2026 – DA MP & Chair on police lambast poor policing in Erasmia…
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE:
The CCF has requested a response from the Democratic Alliance. They have confirmed receipt thereof and will respond in due course.
Firouz Dockrat… ANC member and Erasmia CPF Sector 1 head.
ACTIONSA – RESPONSE FROM COUNCILLOR PRAJAY RAMJEE “A COUNCILLOR OR A CONTRACTOR?”
“This has gone beyond ActionSA accountability – it is another attempt to tarnish my character and integrity. Is this accountability, or simply a smokescreen for a personal attack? If you have evidence to support your allegation that I claimed credit for work that I did not do, please produce it. Serious allegations should not be presented as fact without evidence.
I have been actively involved in the security cluster since 2014. I also initiated numerous community projects long before becoming a PR Councillor. Far from compromising my Councillor duties, my security business strengthens it. During our patrols we identify Ward-related problems – from missing manhole covers to other service delivery failures – which I report and escalate to the relevant City departments. So, there is no reason for concern.”
ACTIONSA TREATMENT OF BUSINESSES
“On what basis are these business closures attributed solely to ActionSA? These were multi-party operations, involving the ANC led coalition, Executive Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Departments of Employment and Labour and Home Affairs – not unilateral ActionSA decisions. Do not mistake my silence for weakness. As elections approach, challenge my record, my performance, ActionSA’ s policies and our plans for Ward 61 – but do so fairly and factually. I will not waste time on political mudslinging or wars of words. My focus remains on serving residents, developing strategic solutions for Ward 61 and letting my work speak for itself.
Hold me accountable – absolutely. But do not disguise a personal attack as political accountability.
Why was I deliberately excluded from the meeting with Acting Minister Firouz Cachalia?
I am an Extension 3 resident; PR Councillor serving Ward 61 and have been active in the security cluster since 2014. Given my experience and involvement in crime related matters, how did excluding me serve the best interests of Ward 61 residents? Why have I deliberately been removed from community crime groups? These groups exist to share information and address residents’ safety concerns. How does excluding a public representative who is actively involved in community safety serve the interests of residents?”
Mr. Dockrat, I trust that these responses will meet with your favour – should you wish to discuss these in further detail – please feel free to contact the Concerned Community Forum via WhatsApp text on Cell: 066 390 0404