Just why ANC Councillor Naeem Patel is ignoring the pleas of many residents living in the Laudium/Erasmia Ward concerning poor service delivery in the area, remains anyone’s guess.
Many residents say there can be no excuse from Patel concerning poor service delivery, as not only does Patel profess to be a committed Councillor of his Ward, but the very same ANC which he holds in such high regard, despite serious allegations of corruption within its own ranks, is leading the Tshwane Council, the Province and the country. Thus, residents say it should be simple for Patel to get the attention of the relevant authorities to respond speedily to their complaints. However, it seems that Patel does not see all residents of his Ward as equals, with some seemingly being ‘more equal than others.’
This follows the Laudium Sun once again receiving complaints about Council workers leaving repairs to underground water pipes unfinished for months on end.
This time, residents of Van Dyk Street in Erasmia have expressed their unhappiness to the Laudium Sun over the poor service carried out by Council workers. Residents said that an underground water pipe leak was repaired about six months ago but Council workers left the dug-up area without restoring it to its original state, leaving behind a large open hole.
pipe leak about six months ago, but left the dug-up area and open hole unrestored.
Residents now fear that a sinkhole could form or that an accident could occur, especially at night, as motorists and pedestrians regularly use that part of the street.
Pieter Labuschagne of Van Dyk Street told the Laudium Sun, “This is not right at all because the water pipe leakage was eventually attended to more than six months ago after several complaints and since then, shockingly, the Council workers just left everything as is. They came and dug up a big hole to repair the water pipe leakage, but after doing the work they just left the place in a terrible condition. All the sand is still lying there causing dust all over and the hole that was dug up has not been filled and properly restored to what it was before all the digging. I feel this is very careless of the Council because it creates a serious danger for everyone living in the area. At night the situation becomes even worse because the streetlights are not working properly, making it very difficult to see the open hole. This can easily cause a big accident, especially for drivers who may not notice it on time. I am also very worried about children who walk to school every day as they can get injured if they fall into the hole or trip over the uneven surface. I have complained to the Council about this issue but as usual there has been no appropriate response or follow-up. It feels like the concerns of residents are not taken seriously at all. This is pure negligence from the Council and also from the local Ward Councillor. I see no effort being made to fix the problem satisfactorily or to ensure the safety of the community. I strongly feel that the Council is not doing anything for this area. Most of the attention seems to always be given to certain people or groups in Laudium and Erasmia and many of us residents are treated as if we do not matter. This is not right at all because we are also residents who pay rates and taxes and deserve proper service delivery. As a resident of Erasmia I expect better service from the Council and our
Councillor, including proper maintenance of the streets and quick action when issues like this are reported. Leaving a hole in the street in this condition for months on end is completely unacceptable.”
Mohammed Akmal, also of Van Dyk Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I really must say that Cllr Naeem Patel is a useless and good for nothing, because there are so many problems we are facing in Erasmia, yet the focus is always on certain people, especially those from Laudium. I feel this is completely unfair because our area is also part of his Ward 61 and deserves equal attention and service delivery. It is very frustrating to see that our concerns are ignored while certain areas where his supporters live, seem to get quicker response and better maintenance. I am very disappointed with the way the underground water pipe leakage situation has been handled. The Council workers came and dug up a big hole to fix the problem but after that they simply left everything as is. The area has been left in a terrible state, with sand and dust scattered all over the place and the hole not closed or repaired. This has created a serious hazard for everyone using the street on a daily basis. I feel this situation shows complete lack of responsibility and care from the Council. A job that should have been completed properly has been left halfway, which is unacceptable for any public service. Residents are now forced to deal with the consequences of poor workmanship and negligence, which makes daily life more difficult and unsafe. I am especially concerned about the safety of people living in the area. The open hole and uneven surface can easily cause accidents, especially for drivers who may not notice the danger in time. Pedestrians are also at risk, particularly elderly residents and children who use the street regularly. The problem becomes even more dangerous at night when visibility is low as the streetlights do not work half the time.”
Levine Naidoo, a Van Dyk Street resident, told the Laudium Sun, “I strongly believe that Councillor Patel should take more responsibility and ensure that issues like this are resolved properly and not left unfinished. Leadership should involve making sure that every part of the community is looked after, not only selected areas. The current situation makes it seem like Erasmia is not being treated with the importance it deserves. I hope that in the coming months there will be a new Councillor who is willing to devote time and effort to Erasmia as well. We need someone who listens to residents, takes complaints seriously and ensures that problems are fixed properly without delays. A
Councillor should be present, active and committed to improving the living conditions of all residents. I want to see real change in the way service delivery is handled in this area. Proper planning, accountability and follow-through are needed to restore trust between the community and the Council.”