With the Tshwane Council and the local Ward Councillor seemingly not doing enough to stop the growing number of illegal squatters in the South West part of Erasmia proper, residents living in these areas are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of action by the authorities.
Many residents say that there has been, of late, more crime in the Mooiplaas/Gerhardsville area of Ward 61, due to the high and uncontrollable influx of illegal squatters into the area, many of whom are undocumented foreigners. This follows yet more crime in the Gerhardsville area, reported to the Laudium Sun for stats purposes.
In one of the latest incidents, a house on 4th Ave was raided by two thieves in the early part of the morning, this past Sunday (May 25). The house which is rented out by the owner, saw the tenant losing a number of valuables after two suspected black males cut the fence near the main gate and got into the house at around 1:30am, stealing a number of valuables, including an iPhone 14, an iPhone 15, a gas cylinder, and a JBL speaker from the living room.
Steve Dyer, the owner of the house on 4th Avenue in Gerhardsville, told the Laudium Sun, “I was informed that some thieves had forced entry into my house, where I have tenants. The tenant was asleep at the time and fortunately, the suspects did not gain access to the bedroom. Crime in Gerhardsville is getting out of hand. We need more than just talk from our Councillor—we need real action.
Gerhardsville has been neglected for far too long. We urgently need improved security and more frequent police patrols. This is a quiet neighbourhood and people live here seeking peace. To maintain that, action must be taken by the Councillor to ensure our safety. We constantly hear about break-ins and other crimes. The Erasmia police need to patrol our area more regularly—we are part of Ward 61 too. And to Councillor Patel, I say this: please don’t neglect us for the sake of vote banks. We are human beings and we deserve protection just like everyone else.”
4th Avenue resident, Emily Grober, told the Laudium Sun, “The crime, especially in our area, is really bad. Break-ins have become very common and to prevent them, we need more police protection. Crime is at an all time high. We’ve been quiet for too long, but I think it’s time we raise our voices and express our concerns. The politicians running Ward 61 may have forgotten thatwe are also part of this Ward. They need to improve service delivery in our area. They must not abandon us—because we voted them into power and we also have the power to vote them out. All we want is a better life for the Gerhardsville community. I urge the police to take more responsibility and patrol our area much more regularly.”
Sgt Calvin Shaai, Communication Officer at Erasmia SAPS, told the Laudium Sun, “A case of housebreaking and theft was reported in the Gerhardsville area, which falls under the Erasmia SAPS jurisdiction. The complainant alleged that he was sleeping during the night of May 25, at approximately 1:30am, when he heard movement inside the house. Upon waking to investigate, he saw an unknown adult male leaving the premises. Upon further
inspection, he discovered that there had been forced entry into the house. The following items were reported stolen: one iPhone 14, one iPhone 15, and a 9kg gas cylinder. The matter was reported to the Erasmia SAPS, and an investigation is currently underway.”
Calls for community to unite to untie crime in Gerhardsville
A meeting called by the Rural Safety Committee in Gerhardsville, concerning the crime situation in the area, saw about 50 residents attending. The meeting which was held the previous Saturday (May 17) was also attended by PR Councillor Prajay Ramjee and Ward 61 Councillor Naeem Patel. Fanus Buckle the co-ordinator of the Rural Safety Committee told the Laudium Sun, “Gerhardsville residents have faced a troubling rise in criminal activity over the past month. In response, we held an urgent community meeting to establish a plan to protect our families and neighbourhoods. Our approach is divided into Immediate, Medium Term, and Long-Term actions. Immediately, we need to stand together. This means actively supporting our patrollers and community safety groups—and importantly, we are calling on more residents to join the patrolling teams. Greater visibility on our streets will act as a strong deterrent to criminal elements. Let’s not wait for someone else to step up—your involvement matters. In the medium term, we must take responsibility for our surroundings. Overgrown grass on vacant plots must be cleared, and the roadside vegetation needs urgent attention from the City of Tshwane. Residents should also stop employing or housing undocumented individuals, as this creates risks. Everyone is encouraged to improve their own home security. Long term, we are looking into fencing off Gerhardsville and introducing gated entrances to better control access. We also urgently need the Council to repair broken streetlights and install additional lighting—especially in dark, high-risk areas. Most importantly, security starts with each of us. Stay alert, report all incidents to 112 or 10111 and ensure you receive an IR reference number. If the SAPS does not respond, call again with the reference number—this helps ensure your case is counted in official crime statistics. Together, we can take back our streets and create a safer future for Gerhardsville.”
*Erasmia CPF chairperson, Pritesh Bhana, said he was not aware of the meeting as no one informed him about it.
