Many residents of Ward 61 have complained that they were not notified about the visit of the Tshwane Mayor to Laudium last Friday (March 6). Mayor Nasiphi Moya of ActionSA, accompanied by her delegation, visited the area to address concerns raised by Region 4 residents regarding service delivery by the Tshwane Council.
However, the turnout at the meeting was extremely low. Only about 30 residents—excluding officials—were seen by the Laudium Sun, despite seating having been arranged for at least 150 people. It is believed that the Mayor’s “Open Day” visit may have been boycotted by supporters of Councillor Naeem Patel.
While protocol required that Councillor Patel be present, several individuals and organisations typically associated with Ward 61 community structures were notably absent. Ward Committee members, executive members of the Laudium Community Policing Forum (CPF), representatives from the Pakistan South African Association, and members of Patel’s Ward 61 Residents Association—reportedly chaired by Zakiya Shaik—were not seen at the meeting, despite allegations that Patel exercises significant influence over these groups.
Aside from Lushika Mooloo of the Concerned Community Forum (CCF), whom Patel reportedly refuses to acknowledge, as well as Paul Bennet from Patel’s office and Councillor Prajay Ramjee of ActionSA, there appeared to be little visible representation from community organisations at the gathering. Residents have since expressed concern that greater community participation and transparency are needed in order for such engagements with municipal leadership to effectively address local issues.
Cllr Patel’s (ANC) team boycotts Tshwane Mayor’s (ActionSA) visit to Laudium?… many residents in the dark about meeting
Many residents of Ward 61 have complained about not being notified of the Tshwane Mayor’s recent visit to Laudium. Mayor Nasiphi Moya of ActionSA, accompanied by her entourage, came to Laudium last Friday (March 6) to address concerns from Region 4 residents regarding services rendered by the Tshwane Council.
However, the turnout was extremely low. Only about 30 residents, excluding officials, were seen at the Laudium Civic Centre by the Laudium Sun, despite seating being arranged for at least 150 people. It appeared that the Mayor’s “Open Day” visit may have been boycotted by supporters of Councillor Naeem Patel.
While protocol required Councillor Patel to be present, his Ward Committee members, executive members of the Laudium Community Policing Forum (CPF), local residents from the Pakistan South African Association and even representatives of Patel’s Ward 61 Residents Association, reportedly chaired by Zakiya Shaik, were not seen at the meeting. This is despite allegations that Patel holds considerable influence over these groups. Other than Lushika Mooloo from the Concerned Community Forum (CCF), whom Patel reportedly refuses to acknowledge, Paul Bennet from Patel’s office and Councillor Prajay Ramjee of ActionSA, there was little visible representation from community organisations.
Imraan Ahmed of the CCF told the Laudium Sun, “We heard about the meeting at the last minute and fortunately Lushika managed to attend. I cannot understand why this meeting was not properly advertised and why it was held on a Friday morning, when many of us are at work or preparing for prayers. Councillor Patel should have known better and advised the Mayor accordingly. I am also surprised that not even his Ward Committee members were present at the meeting. If they truly cared for the community, they should have been there to hear the concerns being raised.”
Councillor Prajay Ramjee of ActionSA explained that Friday’s gathering formed part of the launch of the Executive Mayor’s Open Day initiative. This programme allows various departments from the City of Tshwane to set up stations at a central venue where residents can receive assistance with longstanding municipal queries, some dating back as far as 2019.
The Region 4 event, which covers the Centurion area, was hosted at the Laudium Community Centre. Several municipal departments were present to assist residents. The Waste Management team helped with applications for new refuse bins, the Finance Department addressed billing queries, and the Electricity Department assisted with meter-related issues while also offering advice on electricity savings. Other departments present included Health, Emergency Services, Roads and Stormwater, and Water and Sanitation.
Ramjee added that the highlight of the event was the presence of the Executive Mayor herself, who engaged directly with residents and personally assisted with their concerns. One of the major issues raised was the ongoing Bangladesh Heights water billing dispute. Ramjee and Lushika Mooloo from the CCF brought the matter to the Mayor’s attention, and she directed them to the appropriate municipal official to pursue the issue further.
According to Ramjee, the initiative demonstrates that the City of Tshwane is making efforts to assist residents in resolving municipal problems and improving service delivery in the capital city.
