In one of the latest complaints to the Laudium Sun, concerning poor service delivery in the area, residents of Erasmia have complained to the Laudium Sun of illegal activities taking place on Senorita Str, more so drug-related activities by local youngsters.
Residents say that despite efforts to contact Ward Cllr Patel and law enforcement agencies, including the Metro Police, no one has assisted in stopping the problem. Their last attempt was to reach out to the Laudium Sun, desperate for help.
Rashid Sheik Omar Habibi, a concerned resident of Senorita Street in Erasmia, told the Laudium Sun, “I am truly sick and tired of the illegal activities taking place in front of my house. It has been more than two years that I’ve had to deal with the unruly local youngsters from Erasmia and Laudium, who gather on our street almost every single day in their fancy cars, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and engaging in all kinds of inappropriate behaviour right outside my home. These kids come from wealthy families but have no manners. At such a young age, they’re already involved in drinking, drugs, and other bad habits—all in full view of my house. The irony is that they leave the area filthy, throwing empty alcohol bottles, drug syringes, and other disturbing items in front of my property. And I’ve been enduring this for two years. Initially, I was reluctant to take any action, thinking they were just kids hanging out in an empty space. But over the years, their numbers have increased. In the evenings from 6pm till midnight, they blast loud music from their cars, while drinking and using drugs. What hurts me most is that the majority of these youngsters are Muslims, yet they show no fear of the Almighty. They commit illegal acts without shame. This new generation has no respect for God or their parents, so it’s no surprise that they show no respect for elders either. I have tried contacting Councillor Naeem Patel, asking him to visit the site. He told us to send him a video instead. I also reached out to the Erasmia Police, asking them to send a patrol van to observe what’s going on. Unfortunately, they responded that they don’t even have a vehicle available to inspect the area. After numerous attempts, we finally decided to approach the Laudium Sun, because we want justice for our children. We don’t want a community filled with drugs and alcohol—we want peace. We want a drug-free environment where our younger generation can grow up healthy and safe.”
Another concerned Senorita Street resident, Nizaam Shaikjee, told the Laudium Sun, “A lot of youngsters are doing drugs, drinking, and even engaging in sexual activities—and the sad part is, it’s mostly people from our own community. They leave behind empty alcohol bottles and clear evidence of drug use right here in our area. I can only imagine what their homes must be like—probably in complete chaos—because their behaviour reflects poor upbringing. As for the police, they’re a complete waste of time. They never have a vehicle available and are always ‘busy at a crime scene.’ But when you actually see them, they’re hanging around shops, extorting money from foreign shop owners, instead of doing real police work.”
Yet another Senorita Street resident, Navweed Ahmed, told the Laudium Sun, “This situation is truly frustrating. Many residents are fed up with the illegal activities being carried out by the youngsters who gather on our street. They come in large numbers, drink alcohol, use drugs, and commit various haram acts right here in our neighbourhood. They leave behind litter and filth, showing complete disregard for the community. We are simply asking for justice. I sincerely hope that after this article is published in the Laudium Sun, action will be taken and our concerns will finally be heard. We are asking for help—and we need that help now. We have been failed by the local politicians who are supposed to represent us. All we want is a safe and clean community, especially for the sake of our children.”
Shenaaz Ismail of Senorita Street, told the Laudium Sun, “Regarding the on-going illegal dumping and the presence of unsupervised children loitering at the cul-de-sac on Senorita Street in Erasmia, the situation has become increasingly serious. We frequently find syringes, drugs, and alcohol discarded in the area, with the problem escalating over weekends. Security companies have even encountered young girls in highly vulnerable situations, including being found naked in the backseats of vehicles. Many of these children’s parents are known to us and it is deeply concerning that they appear unaware of their children’s whereabouts late at night.”