Just as expected, not even a few days after Cllr Patel recently praised the ANC controlled Gauteng Government and so proudly boasted on his ANC Ward 61 Page, claiming that the Provincial Roads Department had repaired the non-functioning lights on the R55, within 48 hours after his intervention (despite the lights not working for a long time), motorists have now complained about the very same lights remaining on for 24 hours a day, since the repairs.
Following Patel’s post, many residents said that they believe Patel happened to hear about the Roads Department coming into the area to repair the lights and then took advantage of the situation by giving himself and the ANC credit for the so called prompt repairs within 48 hours. Residents say if Patel indeed had any influence in the Roads Department, they challenge him to respond to why then did he not attend earlier to the same lights which were not working for a long time. They also challenged Patel to explain as to why has he not intervened to sort out the traffic lights which were abruptly removed by the same Gauteng Roads Department at the intersection of the R55 and the M26 turnoff (Erasmia) and at the Sunderland Ridge turnoff, which were replaced by stop signs causing huge traffic congestion.
Imraan Ahmed, of the CCF told the Laudium Sun that Cllr Patel was playing games with the community, adding, “When Patel hears about any repairs about to be done in his Ward or even in nearby Wards from officials, he then jumps and quickly posts about it, as if he was instrumental in organising the repairs. But when there are complaints about slow responses to repairs in the area, he either responds by stating that the complaints are not from his Ward or that the matter has been escalated.”
