Calls again for pair to respond to community on a legations… pair challenged to take legal action…
The Laudium Sun has received many calls from concerned residents, claiming that they found Cllr Naeem Patel’s and Ldm CPF chair Shaheen Wahab’s recent video response to a number of allegations made against them in the Laudium Sun May 30 publication, as poor and pathetic.
Residents also stated that the video seemed to them to be more of an imitation attempt of the ‘Peru & Bala’ comedy show. In the video, the pair more affectionately known as ‘Changu & Mangu’ only responded to two points each, out of the many points raised by members of the community to the Laudium Sun. In the video the pair of ‘comedians’ have threatened considering taking legal action against the Laudium Sun, for the “false claims” made against them in the paper, for the sake of transparency and accountability and their good name…. Well, well, well.. the Laudium Sun challenges Changu and Mangu to bring it on, get your ‘team’ to take legal action for allegedly making false claims against you ‘innocent babies’ and for apparently harming your good names, really now. The Laudium Sun unapologetically states that we, together with many other residents, believe that both Changu and Mangu are not fit to hold the positions they serve in the community. We challenge Naeem to reveal certain messages he sent secretly to XXX (he knows who and what it is about). Anyway, notwithstanding the threats of legal action, the Laudium Sun
hereby requests the pair to respond to the allegations made against them by members of the community…
The Laudium Sun has received a number of complaints against Cllr Naeem Patel and his perceived side kick, Laudium CPF Chair, Shaheen Wahab. The pair more fondly known as the ‘Changu Mangu’ couple, are accused of misleading the community, posting false statements, making hollow statements purely for the sake of publicity, hiding relevant information from the community, being vindictive towards those who oppose or expose them, etc…
Herewith information of some of the posts the couple sent individually or sent by the one and supported by the other, which has not only irked many residents, but also raised questions as to whether the pair is fit to serve the community…
Changu keeps on indicating on social media when the Council eventually attends to complaints of residents, that it is due to his credit. Like recently he stated, “Sesmylspruit street lights…After 10 years after putting pressure on the City of Tshwane… residents have street lights…”
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
So how come for the approx. past 4 years since you are in office, did you not mention your failure to secure the fixing of the lights? Did you then not put pressure on Council? How come when things are fixed then it is you and you, but when it is not fixed then you want to explain to the residents the different role of the Councillor and the Council. Explaining that the hands of the Councillors are tied as there are budget constrains and protocols to follow when getting Council to get work done in your area.
Mangu should come clean and tell the community how he or his CPF failed the community, by criminals geting off in court on serious charges, because of the CPF’s ‘illegal’ or unprofessional actions…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
The CPF are not the police and do not have policing powers, yet the CPF keeps on interfering in criminal cases, resulting in criminals being let free in court. It is a shame that Mangu does not seem to have any conscience for the harm his CPF or he himself have caused the community, as he clearly does not seem to even understand his role as chair of the CPF.
Changu and Mangu, both claimed that they have walked the streets of Ward 61, indicating that they got first-hand information on what is happening at grassroot level, speaking to residents as they walked along…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
So now that you went street to street, you should be knowing where the drug dealers and buyers of stolen goods live. Why are they not arrested? Remember the former Councillors did not claim that they walked the streets of Laudium. Besides anti-drug campaigns were very strong in the past during the time of the late Carrim and former Ldm CPF chairperson, Miley Ali. Your excuses that the former Councillors did also not act on drug dealers, is a real shame. You are the CPF Chair and Councillor today and the community wants to know today, why have you, for these past few years, since you have been in office, not acted decisively against drug dealers and those buying stolen goods living within our community? Why don’t you admit that you have failed the community, as it is only after the two of you have come into your positions that residents have seen so much more lawlessness to the point that residents have not only barricaded their homes, but also their streets with gates, out of fear for being victims of crime. Your excuses of comparing yourselves (as ANC members also) to performances of past Councillors or CPF members are typical of that of the ANC, still blaming apartheid more than 30 years later, for the injustices carried out by the present government.
During April, the CPF under its chair, Mangu, issued a statement that CPF members apprehended the mastermind behind the recent spate of hijacking attempts in the Laudium area. The CPF claimed that their members tracked down the suspect and apprehended him and furthermore the CPF asked the community to handover evidence of crime matters to them, such as CCTV footage…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
Firstly the police spokesperson at area level, stated that the CPF does not have the powers to track down and apprehend suspects and that they have no authority to ask the public for evidence related to crime, including CCTV footage. Secondly, despite requesting for the case number of the alleged arrest of the hijacking suspect and the outcome of the case, the police were baffled as they were not even aware of such a case. Both the spokesperson and the Laudium Station Commander who were asked by the Laudium Sun for info on this matter could not answer. The Laudium Sun challenges the CPF to let the public know the outcome of the alleged case.
Many residents believe that Changu as Councillor, has been vindictive towards the newly formed Concerned Community Forum (CCF), trying to break up the forum. Changu has recently unashamedly complained to an elderly family member of one of the ‘iron ladies’ of the forum about their ‘daughter going against him’ and pointing out to the ‘good relationship’ his family enjoyed with their family in the past and that he would not want it to now spoil… clearly, indirectly threatening the family. Also Changu has falsely indicated that ‘his’ Ward 61 Residents Association (W61RA) has been active all the time, since it was formed. It is believed that despite the W61RA not being active, Changu has just been giving them credit by adding their name onto his social media statements, as if they have been involved with him. At a recent public meeting held with the various gated communities in Laudium, the non functioning of the Ward 61 Residents Association was brought up, with residents agreeing that the association was in fact dormant. Now all of a sudden after the recent announcement by the pair of ‘Iron Ladies’ that the time has come for residents to get involved via the CCF, all of a sudden the Changu Councillor without any shame, has misled the community by pretending that ‘his’ residents association has been active all the time. Furthermore, Changu is accused of having a ‘rent a crowd’ situation by having the same people serving on various of ‘his’ organisations, such as Paul Bennet, who serves in his office, the CPF and the Ward61 Residents Association. So if Paul is at a scene of an accident for example, Changu would post, that the CPF, the Ward 61 Residents Association and his office are present, even though it could be only one person…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
How pathetic and low can this Changu ANC member go, who professes to be morally upright and serving the best interests of the community, by now targeting elderly and sick family members of those whom he believes are opposing him politically. Nevertheless, the Laudium Sun challenges the Changu Councillor, to deny that he approached and complained to an elderly sickly family member of one of the females on the CCF. Changu is also challenged by the community to produce minutes of meetings and the attendance register of the W61RA, showing exactly how many meetings were held and who attended these meetings during the past years since inception. Also, Changu should tell the community why the then Chair of the W61RA, Zakiya Sheik a teacher, was ‘missing in action’ and how come she had all of a sudden appeared. What is his relationship with her and why does he allow her to attend his functions and post on social media matters relating to him as Councillor, during school hours. Changu should also be honest to the community he serves and confess if there was any matter of controversy concerning the two of them?
Changu should also be honest with the residents of Ward 61, and confess what role he or his ANC party played, concerning the proposed boundary changes of Ward 61, with Gerhardsville being removed and the ‘Spruit’ area which falls under the Mooiplaas area to now be incorporated into Ward 61, by the Demarcation Board. He should also explain to the community when he first came to know of the proposed changes.
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
Why did Changu and his Ward Committee not at the time, ask for comments from the community on these proposed changes. Changu should also explain as to why he misled the community by posting that the meeting for the hearing of the proposed change in the demarcation of Ward 61 was on May 21, when in fact that date was long changed to June 20th. Also, Changu says that there were various other proposals for the demarcation changes of Ward 61, but that these proposals were rejected. Rejected by who? So why are the current proposals to include one voting station from Mooiplaas to Ward 61 not rejected? For the record Itireleng which has about 30 000 people, mostly illegal foreigners, has only one voting station.
Mangu seems to always be going in front of the camera to get attention. Recently, he was an embarrassment as he deliberately walked in front of the camera when the young boy, Imtiaz Daniels, a supporter of the Palestinian cause, who was arrested with four other adults during the recent soccer game at Loftus, was being interviewed after his release…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
Was it again a desperate attempt to promote yourself in front of the camera, even at this painful time of innocent people being arrested?
Changu again showed to some, that he was more focussed on being in the front of the cameras that were at the court during the bail hearing on Monday (May 12) for the five soccer fans and Palestinian activists, arrested during a soccer match at Loftus the day before, for wearing T-Shirts in support of Palestine. Cllr Changu seemed to have no clue as to what was happening at the bail hearing on the Monday, as none of the five who were arrested were released on that Monday. Yet, Changu posted on his social media that the young Imtiaz was released on that Monday which was completely false, as all five were only released four days later on the Wednesday. He further posted on the Wednesday that all five were released on R1000 bail, that was also false, as the minor was released without bail. Changu posted on the Sunday evening, (May 10) after the five soccer fans were arrested at Loftus, “I’ve reached out to Brigadier Ntini via CPF Chairperson Shaheen Wahab to assist those detained.. CPF Tshwane District Exco member Shaheen Wahab , myself and other CPF members… are currently en route to Sunnyside Police Station to address the situation…we have engaged with the Regional Chairperson and Provincial Commissioner General Ntombeni…”
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
Yes and then what happened? What did your Mangu do, did he get the 5 out, NO. instead they had to sit in jail until Wednesday.
Changu on the Monday posted, “We once again strongly condemn the SAPS’s heavy handed treatment of Palestinian activists at the Loftus Interrnational soccer match. CPF Chair Shaheen Wahab and I left the Sunnyside Police Station at 11pm after lawyers failed to secure bail for the five arrested activists.….We’ve contact the Minister of Sports (Gayton McKenzie of the PA, the same PA that is totally pro Israel) and National Commissioner to investigate the incident…”
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
So why did Changu not criticize his ANC led Tshwane Council, as the Tshwane Metro Police were also involved in chasing and harassing the Palestinian supporters away? Further, Changu has been quick to criticise those in the Muslim community who associate themselves with pro- Israeli people, yet he sees fit to engage with Gayton from the PA, whose party recently visited Israel and praised the Israeli Government. Furthermore, yes we are all very impressed that you and your Mangu contacted the Sports Minister and the National Police Commissioner and you even got a call from the Deputy Minister of Justice, Andries Nel, how impressive. But tell us, with all the contacts of yours and Shaheen’s, what happened, why did you not get the five activists out on Sunday or Monday and what has happened thus far with your complaints against the police?
Mangu’s CPF apparently released a press statement that a drug dealer was arrested during a police operation in the Laudium area on Friday, May 9, under the leadership of their chairperson and the Ward Councillor (Changu and Mangu )…
Response from the Laudium Sun (LS)…
However the Laudium Sun understands that two men who were arrested during the raid for drugs were released after charges were withdrawn. No one was charged for dealing in drugs. Did the CPF again mislead the community? Furthermore, the Laudium Sun states that it would be a lie to say that the police operation was led by Changu and Mangu.