Despite a number of security gates mushrooming all over Erasmia with streets being closed off, crime continues in the area.
Due to the high crime in both Erasmia and Laudium, fed up residents in various neighbourhood in the area, have taken it upon themselves to close off streets with security gates in the hope of bringing crime down in their respective areas, as more and more residents are losing faith in the local police to protect them. In one of the latest incidents of crime in the Erasmia area, the Laudium Sun received reports of a car stolen outside a Madressa on Bart Jourbert Street in Erasmia. The theft of the car, a Toyota Yaris, was discovered last Wednesday afternoon at
around 5pm. When the Laudium Sun went to the scene, we met with the caretaker of the Madressa and who gave his name as ‘Dawud’ who told the Laudium Sun, “The owner of the car which was stolen, works in Pretoria North. Every day he parks his car outside the Madressa and then goes to work with his colleague, who comes and fetches him from outside the Madressa and they then leave together for work. I do not know the owner of the car, but this person has been parking his car outside the Madressa for months. I am not sure if he knows the owners of the Madressa or one of the teachers. We were surprised when we learned his car was stolen, which was done in broad daylight. It looks like the criminals who stole his car were watching the car and the owner’s movements concerning the time he parked the car each day and the time he fetched it everyday. The car which was stolen was a Toyota but I don’t remember the model of the car. We are really concerned about all this crime as we have many children being dropped off here. This is the first time something like has happened at the Madressa. I think these criminals who stole the car, did it whilst we were all inside. This area is very quiet because most of the residents lock their gates and do not go out much because of the high crime in the area, causing them not to feel safe. Crime in Erasmia and Laudium is out of control. The police and the Community Police Forum (CPF) of Erasmia have to pull up their socks and fight this scourge. It is no longer safe in Erasmia. I believe these criminals will strike again, as they got away with this theft. The police have to patrol our streets more often as we have so many
children coming here, who need to learn in peace and not worry about being attacked by criminals.” Another resident from Bart Joubert Street, Erasmia, Samuel Moforo, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard of the theft of the Toyota, which was parked daily outside the Madressa by the owner when going to work somewhere else. I heard that the owner parked it there because he thought that his car will be safe as there is always activity at the Madressa with children coming in and out.” A parent who gave his name only as ‘Bhai’ told the Laudium Sun, “We are worried as parents about the theft of the car. Fortunately, at the time of the theft there were no parents dropping off or fetching their kids. This is a lesson to all of us to be vigilant at all times and to take the necessary precautions.” When asked to comment on the theft of the car, a police official at the Erasmia Police Station told the Laudium Sun, that they were not aware of the incident and that no case was opened.
Pritesh Bhana of the Erasmia CPF was unavailable for comment.
