The Laudium Sun has received a number of complaints from residents concerning a response from the Laudium CPF on social media, concerning the attack on the Kismet Pharmacy motorbike rider, last Friday.
Instead of addressing the serious issues of crime in the area, the CPF which is led by staunch ANC supporter Shaheen Wahab, lambasted ActionSA Councillor Prajay Ramjas’ PAJ Patrollers, via social media, which post was forwarded by ANC Councillor Naeem Patel.
This follows PAJ being the first to post on social media, regarding details of the attack on the Kismet Pharmacy motorcycle rider. In their post, PAJ stated that there were four suspects involved in the robbery, with three suspects seen running up to Taj Street and the escape route used for the motorbike going up Himalaya Street, towards the hospital. PAJ also mentioned that one of the suspects was wearing a red jacket and that they (PAJ Patrollers) responded immediately to the scene and searched the area around Taj Street, but could not find the suspects. The post ended with PAJ stating, “PAJ Community Patrollers have always and will always be there for our community.”
However, seemingly bitter that PAJ responded to the scene first, the statement issued by the CPF partly read, “The Laudium CPF is issuing this official statement to clarify and correct false information… regarding the hijacking involving Kismet Pharmacy delivery motorbike… three suspects WERE involved not four, as previously and incorrectly claimed… Laudium CPF members responded immediately to pursue the suspects…We strongly condemn any private security company falsely claiming involvement in this incident. These claims are misleading and false-they were not part of the response or recovery efforts. Such actions undermine real work being done on the ground and cause unnecessary confusion in the community…”
CPF’s claim to have been first on the scene, adding that “politicking and seeming desire for fame is hurting the community…”
However, as per their standard posts, the CPF did not elaborate on what exactly their members did at the scene. Did they search the area? Did they go into Itireleng to look for the motorbike and why did they not give any information about the suspects?
One of the many who complained about the CPF’s response, is the CCF (Concerned Community Forum’s) Imraan Ahmed, who said, “This is the poor state of affairs of the Laudium CPF, led by Shaheen Wahab and seemingly controlled by Cllr Patel. They seem to be more interested in taking the limelight, even when residents are traumatised due to crime, as they are seemingly more interested in playing the player instead of the ball. Their
politicking and seeming desire for fame is hurting the community, as crime continues in the area, giving residents sleepless nights. If one reads the comments of Prajay’s PAJ Patrollers, it is more detailed, while the CPF’s claim that they were first on scene sounds very suspicious. Also, I cannot understand how the CPF can confirm that there were only three suspects involved in the crime, unless they know who the criminals are? It is common tactics of criminals that one or two members of the syndicate keep a watchful eye on their targets and that they all do not run away in the same direction, when making a getaway. I ask you the residents, why is it that the security company in charge of these gates, Khans Security, is never questioned by the CPF in their posts. Well let me tell you. Khans Security was promoted to be the preferred security company for these gated areas, by both Shaheen and Naeem. That is why they have not once raised their concerns about the security company, despite the ongoing crime in the gated areas. I believe that the Laudium CPF has been misleading the community for too long now. They are failing the community concerning crime. Many of their posts concerning the so called ‘good work’ they are doing are false or misrepresentations of the fact, done purely to promote the Chairperson. It is time that residents wake up and realise that this CPF Chairperson, seems to be more for promoting Cllr Patel and his ‘friends’ and is not fit to serve as the Chair, as he does not seem to possess the acumen and leadership qualities of a Chairman. To me he is more of a show-off.”
