The credibility of controversial Ward 61 Councillor, Naeem Patel of the ANC, is once more in question, concerning a leaking water valve at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Jewel Street in Laudium, near Kharbai Engen.
This follows residents complaining to the Laudium Sun (see May 8 issue) about the leaking of fresh water from the valve, which they said at the time (May 4) had been ongoing for at least two weeks.
The residents added that they were fed up with the poor services they were receiving from the ANC-led Tshwane Council. The Tshwane Council is believed to have only repaired the valve on a temporary basis, some time last week (around Tuesday, May 5 or Wednesday), some two weeks later. However, in response to the complaints of residents, Patel posted a statement this past Monday (May 11) stating, “11/05//2026 UPDATE ON THE WATER LEAK IN 2nd AVE AND JEWEL STREET, LAUDIUM The leak is temporarily fixed with clamps about 3 week ago We are waiting for the purchase order to permanently weld the 110mm HDPE pipe and flanges to the existing isolation valve.”
Residents in the area are now furious claiming that Patel was not telling the truth in his post, claiming that he had misled the community, by stating that the water leak was fixed three weeks prior to May 11. Residents are adamant that the leak started around April 22 and was only fixed around May 5 or 6, some two weeks later. According to Patel’s post (of three weeks) it would mean the water leak started prior to April 21, as according to him, the leak was fixed around April 21. Residents claim that Patel has once more misled the community, by covering up for the ANC’s poor service delivery in the area.
Jumna Singh of 2nd Avenue, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “This is really a misrepresentation from the Ward Councillor ‘Naeem Patel’ about service delivery. I stay right in front of where the water leak happened, so I know exactly when it started and when it was eventually fixed by the City of Tshwane. The water leak from the valve in front of the Engen garage started on April 22 and from that day, clean water was flowing continuously without any stop. I stay opposite the garage, which gave me a clear view of the situation every single day. I monitored the leak closely because it was happening right in front of my home. Day after day, the water kept running down the street, and no one came to attend to it. It was not something that happened for a short period; it went on for at least two weeks while residents watched clean water being wasted. During this time, there was no sign of any temporary repair or any attempt to fix the issue. The leak continued non-stop, and it became a serious concern for everyone living nearby. The road became messy and the constant flow of water created inconvenience for residents. Despite our complaints, nothing was done until much later. It was only about two weeks later, that the matter was finally attended to, when officials from the City of Tshwane came last week and fixed the leak. That was the first time any proper work was done to stop the water from flowing. Before that date, there was no repair, temporary or permanent, that took place at the site. When I saw the post this week shared by Naeem Patel on 11 May, claiming that the water leak had been temporarily fixed about three weeks earlier, I was extremely angry and shocked. This statement does not match what actually happened on the ground. I witnessed the entire situation and I can say with certainty that no such temporary fix was done at any point before last week. It is not right at all what he posted. Making such claims about service delivery creates a false impression that the issue was handled earlier, when in reality it was left unattended for at least two weeks. Being a Ward Councillor comes with the responsibility of being honest and transparent with the community. Sharing incorrect information about something so visible and experienced by residents is very disappointing. It raises serious concerns about how service delivery matters are being communicated to the public. This situation has caused a lot of frustration among residents. It is not only about the water leak, but also about the trust between the community and its leadership. When information shared with the public is not accurate, it damages that trust and leaves residents feeling ignored. As residents of Laudium, we expect truthful communication and proper accountability. We deal with these issues in our daily lives and we know what is happening on our own streets. It is unfair to present a different version of events that does not reflect reality. This must stop. We want a Councillor who is honest with the residents and who provides accurate updates about service delivery. The community deserves transparency and respect. At the end of the day, it is the residents who face the consequences of such issues and it is important that they are not misled. This entire water leak situation shows how misleading information by our Councillor can create frustration and mistrust within the community. It also raises concerns about other service delivery matters. Residents want to see a Councillor who shows honesty, accountability and real action, not statements that do not reflect what is actually happening on the ground.”
other service delivery matters.
Abdul Rahman of Jewel Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “The service delivery in our area is really poor and on top of that, if the Ward Councillor is not being truthful about service delivery, it makes the situation even worse. We are dealing here with fresh water leaks that are not being fixed, yet we are given updates saying everything was sorted weeks ago, which is completely untrue. The information that was shared by Naeem Patel about the matter being resolved three weeks earlier is not correct. The water leak problem started past the second half of April and continued for a long time into the first week of May, without any attention from the Tshwane Council. It was only after at least two weeks that any action was taken and residents had to deal with the situation for weeks while waiting for it to be addressed. This kind of communication creates frustration in the community because it does not reflect what people are actually experiencing at grass roots level. Residents move around on these streets every day and can clearly see what is happening around them. When updates are shared that do not match reality, it raises serious concerns about honesty and accountability. There was a significant amount of clean water wasted during this period and it went on for far too long without any visible intervention from the Council. This is unacceptable, especially when such issues require urgent attention. The delay in response shows a lack of efficiency in handling service delivery matters. It is time that residents get a new Ward Councillor who is transparent and committed to making things happen with honesty and integrity.”
that residents get a new Ward Councillor who is transparent and committed to making
things happen with honesty and integrity.”
Another resident from the area, Mohammed Ali, told the Laudium Sun, “The community deserves accurate information and proper action, not statements that mislead them. Trust is very important, and once it is broken, it becomes difficult for residents to rely on any updates being shared by our Councillor. The post that was shared on Naeem’s WhatsApp platform does not reflect the truth of what happened. Residents are not happy with the way this situation has been handled and there is a strong feeling that the community is being let down by our Councillor. Truthful communication and timely action are essential and both seem to be lacking in this case. It is important for leadership to take responsibility and ensure that information given to the public is correct. Residents expect better service delivery and honest communication. At the end of the day, it is the community that is affected and it is only fair that they are treated with respect and given truthful updates about issues in their area.”
This is not the first time that Cllr Patel has been accused of misleading the community. Attempts to get a comment from Patel were not successful.