Dear Laudium family,
My name is Lushika Mooloo and I was born and raised in this community. Laudium is not just a place on a map — it is my home, my foundation, and my heart.
I remember the Laudium of my childhood so vividly. A place filled with love, where walking through the shopping centre meant stopping every few steps to greet a familiar face — a smile, a hug, a warm hello. Where neighbours were not just neighbours, but family. Where elders stood tall as the pillars of wisdom and respect.
We shared everything. We learnt side by side in the same schools, teachers raising us like their own children. We played in the same parks, we bought bread from the same corner shops, and we prayed in Temples, Mosques, and Churches that stood side by side. Our faiths may have been different, but our humanity was the same. We celebrated everything together. At Diwali, the whole street lit up. At Eid, every home overflowed with generosity and sweetness. At Christmas, love and laughter filled the air. These were not just religious festivals — they were community celebrations. Poverty was rare, because if one family struggled, ten families stepped in to help.
That was Laudium. That was home. That was love.
What We Lost
Somewhere along the way, we lost that essence. Neighbours became strangers. Our elders were no longer heard, no longer honoured. And where there was once love and unity, greed and pride crept in and brought disunity.
Today, people’s dignity is stripped away daily. When families live without water for days, when lights are off for weeks, when sewage runs through our streets, when children are denied opportunities to learn and grow — it is not just poor service delivery. It is a direct insult to our humanity. It tells us we do not matter. And yet, we are not powerless. We have platforms. We have ways to raise our voices and shine a light on every injustice. Whether it is a damaged drain, a sewage leak, a broken light, or a household without water — every one of these is more than just an inconvenience. They are violations of our basic human rights.
But these platforms only work if we use them. We must speak out. We must speak loudly. We must speak together. Only then can the truth be seen, and only then can change begin.
Sadly, disunity has led us to become silos. We no longer know what our neighbour is facing. Just last week, a fellow resident almost suffered severe injury because of a broken drain — even when that danger has already been brought to the attention of officials. This silence and separation weakens us.
But it does not have to stay this way. We have the platforms to be heard, to be seen, to be united — to reclaim our Laudium, the once beautiful Laudium and all its surroundings. Together, we can restore the spirit of unity that once defined us.
The Moment That Broke Me
A few days ago, we learnt of a situation that transpired at a public meeting, in full view of senior Council officials. We had a discussion with Aunty Dorothy from White Blocks – who was very emotional, heartbroken and frustrated. Residents know Aunty Dorothy to be a servant of the people; she selflessly dedicates her time and energy to bring hope to those in dire need. Aunty Dorothy is 70 years old, but she attends every public meeting (by foot) to raise the plight of the residents, At the meeting that took place on Thursday, August 21, 2025; Aunty Dorothy raised the many concerns of the situation in White Blocks and the neglect from the Council and the Councillor.
Instead of listening to her concerns and acknowledging her frustration, she was severely insulted, humiliated, and berated by Councillor Naeem Patel, in full view of the Senior Council officials who had come to address and give feedback to the community. Her heartfelt pleas for help were brushed aside, she was belittled, and her pleas were dismissed as though her pain was a burden.
We have heard that the residents of a poverty-stricken area in Laudium were referred to as “illiterate” and called “thieves” — words that strip dignity and deepen wounds. Residents even said that at a public meeting and on a WhatsApp group, Cllr Naeem Patel said that he does not need their votes as there are 3000 voters coming from Mooiplaas. Does this mean that earning the trust of the people no longer matters; that what matters is simply gathering votes to cling to power. This brought tears to my eyes. Because if a woman of such dignity and selflessness can be dehumanised in this way and the residents that we grew up with, our neighbours, family and friends can be humiliated in public meetings, then what does it say about where we are as a community? Where is our humanity? And it does not end there. We have learnt of a family whose dreams were shattered because of unprecedented personal agendas fuelled by greed. Mariam Hoosen and her husband Bilaal Ismail Alli faced a harrowing ordeal when they entered a property sale deal with Councillor Naeem Patel. Our understanding is that there were several allegations made about the couple and as a result, this sale was not realised. Mariam was extremely emotional when she approached the Forum, she was in utter disbelief about how the Councillor went about defaming them.
On Friday and Saturday (22 and 23 August 2025) an outreach programme was held for the benefit of our residents. The purpose of this initiative was to assist residents with their water, electricity, rates and taxes accounts. This was much needed as it is not always possible for residents to travel to the Centurion Council office to seek such assistance. Instead of the initiative being proudly supported by our community leadership, Saturday became a day of frustration as the community centre was locked at 09h00— despite the leadership being well aware that the programme was organized for the two days. Residents, many of them elderly, were left sitting outside in the cold, waiting for their turn to see an official. This was not only dehumanising to our people, but also a blatant show of disrespect to the officials who were here to assist our community. What was even more disappointing was that after the dedication and hard work of Councillor Novina Pillay to bring this outreach to life, the glory was claimed by Councillor Naeem Patel. This is not leadership. This is not service. This is betrayal of the very people we are meant to protect and serve.
We cannot continue to turn a blind eye. These are not just incidents. They are insults to our humanity, to our dignity, and to the very soul of Laudium. That was the moment we knew — silence is no longer an option.
Why We Fight for Humanity
The CCF was not born out of politics. It was not born out of ambition. It was born out of heartbreak. Out of the pain of watching Laudium lose its soul. Out of the anger of seeing our dignity stripped away. Out of the fear of losing the unity that once defined us.
Yes, it has been hard, extremely challenging. Some of our key members have faced intimidation. Our families have carried the burden. There have been days when we wanted to give up. But then we think of mothers begging for safe spaces for their children. Fathers broken because they cannot provide an education. Families crying because they cannot put food on the table. Elders silenced and disrespected when they should be honoured.
And we know that giving up is not an option. If we do not fight for our dignity, for our humanity, for our children’s future — then we will lose everything.
No One Will Save Us, But Us
For too long, we have waited for politicians, MMCs, and Premiers to come and “save” us. But the truth is this: they cannot save us.
No one will fight for Laudium and our surrounding areas if we do not fight for our homes ourselves.
We cannot sit comfortably while our community crumbles. We cannot allow greed for power to divide us further. We cannot stay silent while dignity is stripped from our people.
This is why it is time to rise up, speak out, and speak loud. When we raise our voices, when we use the platforms we have, we become impossible to ignore.
A Pledge from the Volunteers of the CCF
From all of us who give our time, energy, and hearts to this cause, hear us clearly: We stand united. We stand for our community. We stand for justice. Let us understand — the CCF is not a handful of people working in a corner. The CCF is every single one of us. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. We share the same schools, the
same places of worship, the same streets and shops, the same struggles and the same dreams.
And we — the volunteers of the CCF — are ordinary residents like you. We are hardworking. We are honest. We are loyal. We are selfless. We sacrifice our time, our energy, and our comfort zones because we refuse to accept a broken community. We may be few, but our hearts are so mighty that we can withstand the largest army. And we do it not for power or recognition, but because we love Laudium and we love our community, a community that was built through decades of honesty and hard work.
Let’s Be the Difference
Unity is not just a word. It is our greatest strength. It is the best feeling in the world — when we remember that we are one family, standing side by side. So we ask you, not as leaders, not as founders, but as your neighbour, your friend, your family, your fellow resident – Stand with us. Stand for our elders. Stand for our children. Stand for our dignity. Stand for Laudium.
And above all — SPEAK OUT. SPEAK LOUD. SPEAK TOGETHER. Because when our voices rise as one, no council, no leader, no government can silence us. If we rise together, there is nothing we cannot achieve. And if we bring back our humanity, there is nothing we cannot heal. Dawood Ballim, a founding member of the CCF said: “…..let this be a clarion call to the caring Laudium community…let us no longer be bullied into silence. Claim and demand what you as a community are rightfully entitled to….stand up and be counted…..”
Together, we are not just a forum. We are a family. And when family stands together — nothing can break us. With love, pain, and hope, From the Hardworking, Honest, Loyal, and Selfless Volunteers of the Concerned Community Forum
Footnote – Addressed to Councillor Patel:
Councillor Patel — at the public meeting on August 21, 2025 at the Laudium Community Hall, you declared: “Where are the people that want to debate with me, I am here now.”
We are here. We have been ready since July 11, 2025.
No more excuses from you now. The community is waiting for you to step up. We want answers, we want accountability. On the “illegal mushrooming squatter camp on the M26” — you claim that you met with a few members from Erasmia, Hoekplaats and Laezonia- where are the minutes?
Stop hiding. Ward 61 demands the record because you openly admit that this land invasion will increase crime in Erasmia. You claim that a group of residents will meet with MMC Aaron Maluleka. How are these residents identified? Are you referring to the Ward 61 Residents Association? And for the long-promised public debate — where is your official submission to the Municipal Demarcation Board? This is not optional; it is a public document which YOU were supposed to share publicly prior to submission. The public has not seen this document. YOU claimed that you consulted with the residents of Gerhardsville… prove this please.
The CCF’s submission was open, transparent, and inclusive. We dare you to do the same and share your document. PS – we want the same submission where YOU included and you requested that the Ward 61 boundaries be expanded to include the farms. The same farms that have the illegal shacks on them.
The residents are tired. Their tears have dried. Their fear has become our strength. Our silence is not our weakness. We are ready to pull up our sleeves and make Laudium great again — one step at a time, one brick at a time.
The time for silence and spin is over. The CCF categorically places on record that to date – we have held the Ward Councillor and the PR Councillors equally accountable for Service Delivery failures.
Please join our Concerned Community Forum WhatsApp Group on 060 390 0404 or send a direct message if you have any questions.