While ANC members and supporters are still digesting the heavy breakfast they had with acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia recently, residents are forced to digest the fact that the local police and the ANC controlled Laudium CPF are failing in the area.
As crime continues, residents in the Laudium area remain concerned with poor policing and to add to their woes, residents are ‘forced to lump’ the failing Laudium CPF, which does not seem to be adding any value concerning the reduction of crime in the area. The Laudium CPF, headed by the seemingly incompetent Zahid ul-Zama, who is also the chair of the South African Pakistan Association and an active member of the ANC, has been a disappointment, as he seems to have certainly failed in carrying out the aims and objects of a CPF, as prescribed by the act governing CPFs.
This follows, in this new week, the Laudium Sun yet again receiving complaints from residents about crime in the area, while the local police and the CPF refuse to release weekly crime stats.
In one of the crime incidents reported for stats purposes, two Black males ransacked a home in broad daylight last Tuesday afternoon (August, 18), at around 3:30pm, while the occupants were out. The thieves entered the house of Hanif Mohammed on Bengal Street, Ext 3, Laudium, by breaking the burglar proof of the back-room window to gain entry into the main house.
Despite claims that the police and the CPF patrollers patrol the streets, the thieves managed to steal cash, a Lenovo laptop, two Samsung cell phones, expensive perfumes and other items.
Hanif Mohammed of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It was a terribly unfortunate incident that happened at my place. I was not at home because I had gone to work and there was no one in the house at the time. When I returned from work, I found that my house had been turned upside down. I was shocked and started checking around the house to try to figure out what had happened. When I looked around, I noticed that the thieves had broken the window grill at the back of my house and gained entry into the property. They then went through my
belongings and stole several valuable items, including my Lenovo laptop, cell phones, expensive perfumes and an amount of cash. I worked so hard to buy these items and it is extremely upsetting to come home and find that someone has simply stolen them. I then checked the footage from my CCTV camera because I wanted to understand exactly what had happened while I was away. When I watched the footage, I saw two Black males breaking into my house. It was very disturbing to see them entering my property while I was at work and me realising that my home was actually being invaded by thieves. This is really upsetting because we work hard for the things we have. We wake up every day, go to work and earn our money honestly so that we can provide for ourselves and our families. Then suddenly, some greedy criminals come into our homes and simply steal the things we worked so hard to afford. It leaves one feeling frustrated, angry and helpless. It also made me question the level of safety in our area. It feels like there is no proper law and order anymore, because crime is becoming far too much in Laudium. Many residents from Bengal Street have already moved out because of the high crime rate and I think I may have to consider moving out soon. It is very sad to think that people who have lived in an area for many years are being forced to consider leaving because of criminals. We cannot continue living like this. It is time that the politicians and the police components take the increasing crime seriously and do more to protect residents and their property.”
Shahbaz Khan, also of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the break-in by my neighbour and it is so scary to think that these thieves were right next door to us. Honestly, it is painful to see what is happening to Bengal Street and the area past the hospital. This area is slowly becoming a place where criminals are clearly freely operating without fear of being arrested. It is extremely concerning for those of us who live here because one’s home is supposed to be the place where we should feel safe and protected. I was actually at home on the day when the break in occurred, but I did not hear anything unusual. That is what shocked me the most. I only became aware of what had happened when I saw the information being shared on our community group. When I realised that the house next door had been broken into while I was sitting in my own home, I was deeply worried. It makes you think about how easily something like this can happen without nearby residents noticing a thing. If criminals can enter a property during the day while people are around, then it shows just how vulnerable our neighbourhood has become. Today it is my neighbour’s house, but tomorrow it could happen to another family living on this street, including mine. What makes this situation even more painful is that residents work hard for their homes and belongings. Residents in our area have, for long, been calling for stronger security and a more visible police presence on Bengal Street and the surrounding areas, but it seems like our pleas are being ignored. Police are there to protect communities and we demand that they get their act together. Our CPF should also play their role by listening to the community and ensure that the demands for better police patrols are carried out. We need action from the politicians. Also as residents, we should be able to live peacefully without constantly wondering whether our homes are being watched by criminals. Bengal Street is our home and we do not want to see it deteriorate because of crime. We need to feel safe again and I hope this incident encourages the relevant authorities to take the situation seriously.”
