Following the recent initiative by two local women, calling for residents to unite and
stop the crime and grime in the Laudium/Erasmia area, an interim steering committee has now been formed, to pave the way for a resident’s forum.
This follows an article in the Laudium Sun (April 25) featuring the intentions of the two ‘iron ladies’, Lushika Mooloo and Zakira Bhika, where they spelt out their intentions clearly, stating, “The time has come that we as residents should unite and re-claim our neighbourhoods… ensuring that Laudium and Erasmia is a better place for our children and all law abiding residents living in it.” After the article, a number of residents contacted the pair, pledging their support for the initiative, which many said was urgently needed. While local resident, Cllr Prajay Ramjee, also pledged his support for the new forum, Cllr Patel has yet to respond. A meeting was called thereafter, with those showing keen interest to be active, in attendance. It was decided at the meeting that an interim structure would be
formed and that both women would steer the new group, for now known as the ‘Laudium/Erasmia Concerned Community Forum.’ The Forum’s Lushika has already sent a letter to the Tshwane Mayor inviting her to the area, while the forum’s.
Zakira addressed the community via a letter sent to the Laudium Sun, which read…
“Community Forum Launched to Promote Accountability and Unity in Our Neighbourhoods
‘See It. Say It. Fix It. Together.’
A new community-driven initiative has officially launched in Laudium, Erasmia, Christoburg, and Claudius, aiming to restore transparency, responsiveness, and unity in local affairs, without any political affiliations or power agendas. Introducing the Concerned Community Forum, a platform created by active residents who believe that “accountability must replace empty promises.” This movement invites every resident to step forward, speak up, and take part in rebuilding trust and functionality in our neighbourhoods. The initiative comes at a critical moment as the area undergoes new ward demarcation, a change that requires clearer communication, fair representation, and stronger collaboration between residents and leadership. “We are not waging war against anyone,” said the founding team. “This is not a rebellion, it’s a response. We’re not here for titles. We’re here for results.” The Forum emphasizes that it is not here to replace existing sector-based residents associations, but to bridge the gaps between sectors, promote dialogue, and ensure accountability from elected representatives. As part of its first steps, the Forum mailed a formal letter to the Mayor on 21 May 2025, outlining key concerns and inviting her to a public meeting with residents to engage directly and transparently.
Our Aims and Objectives:
* To hold leadership accountable through constructive and consistent engagement.
* To offer a united platform where residents can raise and resolve issues collectively.
* To demand transparency and regular communication with public officials.
* To engage meaningfully with the demarcation process, ensuring fair resource allocation and service delivery.
* To rebuild trust by promoting a culture of responsibility, honesty, and community care. The founding team is a dynamic group of individuals drawn from different parts of the community, each bringing a track record of community involvement, passion, and a no nonsense approach to service, Lushika Mooloo; Zakira Bhika; Noenz Lutz; Dawood Ballim; Smiley Essa; Moosa Hassim; Mohideen Hasware and Imraan Ahmed. The Concerned Community Forum belongs to you, the people. Its success depends on community participation. Residents across the area of, Laudium, Erasmia, Claudius and Christoburg, are urged to get involved, whether by raising concerns, contributing ideas, or volunteering time and support. This is not just another association. It’s a fresh, united front focused on action, awareness, and unity. Because we believe:
‘See It. Say It. Fix It. Together.’
For more information or to get involved,
WhatsApp your name and address to:
066 390 0404.”
be part of the interim committee.
Letter sent to the Mayor by Lushika…
The Honorable Dr Nasiphi Moya
City of Tshwane Municipality
Good day Dr. Moya
Request for Public Meeting to Address Service Delivery Failures for Laudium, Claudius, Erasmia and Christoburg
We are writing this letter on behalf of the Concerned Residents Forum of Laudium, Erasmia and Christoburg, to request your attendance at a public meeting to address the growing dissatisfaction and frustrations with the state of service delivery, infrastructure neglect, and by-law enforcement in our area.
Residents have been enduring:
· Persistent power outages
· Frequent and prolonged water supply interruptions
· Water leaks – unattended for long periods of time
· Sewerage overflows that have been unattended for weeks now, causing health risks to the residents.
· Streetlights that have been nonfunctional for years now. Burning throughout the day and not functioning at all in the evenings, contributing to the already high crime rate in our Ward.
The consequences of aging and poorly maintained infrastructure are becoming increasingly evident. These issues are not only disrupting daily life but are also negatively impacting businesses, compromising public health and safety, and eroding public confidence in the local government’s ability to deliver even the most basic services.
Despite significant population growth in Ward 61, there has been no corresponding upgrade to the infrastructure. In fact, many of these systems have not been upgraded in our lifetime. The Council has consistently failed to acknowledge or plan for the expanding needs of our community that has grown since the inception of the aged / neglected infrastructure.
We are also experiencing frequent water leaks without being attended for long periods of time, a particularly troubling consequence of these ongoing water leaks is their contribution to the formation of additional potholes, causing severe sinkholes, and the further deterioration of road infrastructure. Water is allowed to flow continuously for days or even weeks, weakening road surfaces and creating hazardous driving conditions. This not only places additional strain on municipal maintenance resources but also increases the risk of accidents and damage to private vehicles.
The level of dissatisfaction has reached a tipping point. Many feel their voices have gone unheard and their basic rights to reliable municipal services are being overlooked. The absence of clear communication and timely responses to these crises only deepens the sense of frustration and abandonment. In addition to the general service issues, there is an unresolved safety concern: an open and broken electrical box that has gone unrepaired
for over two years. Despite numerous reports from residents requesting urgent intervention, this issue persists. The live wires exposed within this box pose a significant safety risk, particularly to children and pedestrians. This is only one example highlighting the need for more attention to addressing community safety concerns. Residents of the White Blocks area in our Ward have long been promised additional RDP housing to accommodate their growing families. However, this commitment has never been fulfilled. To date, there have been no updates, no progress reports, and no visible efforts to honour this promise. This continued inaction not only undermines trust but also leaves many families living in overcrowded and inadequate conditions, with no clarity on when—if ever—relief will come.
We believe this public meeting, with our residents, will provide a critical platform for residents to express their concerns directly, and for your office to respond with transparency, urgency, and a concrete plan of action. We are committed to working collaboratively with local government to improve conditions, but meaningful engagement and visible leadership are essential and meaningful for positive change. We would like to highlight that in the past 10 years; no Mayor has visited Laudium and Erasmia to address any of our concerns. Respectfully Honourable Mayor, there has been a previous commitment from yourself to attend a meeting to address our residents, however, this commitment has not been fulfilled.
We hereby request that you confirm your availability for this public meeting, which we aim to schedule at a time and venue that allows maximum community participation. We are confident your presence will go a long way in beginning to rebuild trust and address the urgent issues at hand. We look forward to your response and your leadership in addressing these critical challenges.
Should you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us via the following platforms:
Email :
concernedcommunityforum4@gmail.com
Cellphone : 066 390 0404
We trust that you will treat our request with urgency.
Kind regards
The Concerned Community Forum
Laudium, Claudius, Erasmia, Christoburg