Despite various messages from Cllr Patel to certain groups of the community, highlighting the work undertaken by the Tshwane Council in the area, residents have questioned why Patel does not also highlight the Council’s failures concerning service delivery in the area.
In what is regarded by many as a desperate attempt by Patel (as a member of the ANC), to promote the ANC led Tshwane Council, despite the huge failures of the Council to diligently serve the community, many residents say that they see Patel as a puppet singing at any cost to the tune of his masters, the ANC, and are thus losing trust in him. Residents claim that the Laudium/ Erasmia area has deteriorated from bad to worse, concerning crime and grime, since Patel and his perceived sidekick, the Laudium CPF Chairperson, Shaheen Wahab, have supposedly been serving the area. From falling and non-working streetlights, to long grass and bush on sidewalks, to rubbish on street corners and vagrants freely walking the streets and harassing residents, complaints keep on pouring in, concerning the poor state of the area.
In one of the latest complaints received by the Laudium Sun, residents of 19th Ave have complained of a streetlight pole on 19th Avenue in Laudium, that is severely damaged and leaning precariously for nearly two years. The residents fear that the streetlight pole could fall at any moment, posing a serious safety hazard for passing cars and pedestrians. 19th Avenue resident, Nazia Ali Shah, told the Laudium Sun, “The streetlight pole on 19th Avenue is in terrible condition. We reported this issue to the Council over a year ago, but it has still not been replaced. None of the streetlights on 19th Avenue are functioning, so I don’t understand why the Council hasn’t removed or repaired them. We have streetlights in name only, and their failure is contributing to an increase in crime in our area.”
She added, “The damaged pole looks like it could fall any day. The Council needs to act urgently to replace it. It’s a serious danger to our children and all residents. 19th Avenue is a busy road with a lot of movement and passengers in passing cars could also be harmed, should the pole fall on any of the cars. We therefore urge Councillor Patel to address this issue immediately.”
Dinesh Govender, another resident of 19th Avenue, also voiced his frustration to the Laudium Sun, “We can’t live in fear or risk our lives because of the Council’s negligence. The issue of the falling streetlight pole has been ongoing for a long time. Many residents have reported it, yet no one from the Council has come to fix it. The pole is right next to Laudium Secondary School, and many children pass by every day. Imagine the tragedy if the pole were to fall. It is extremely dangerous for our community and I urge the Council to take this matter seriously and replace the falling streetlight pole before it is too late.”
Concerned 19th Avenue resident, Aslam Ali, also shared his fears with the Laudium Sun, “This is extremely dangerous—especially the streetlight pole that looks like it’s about to fall. It’s so scary that I avoid walking near it, because I don’t want to risk my life due to the Council’s failure to replace the pole. This issue needs to be fixed urgently. Honestly, if I were the Ward Councillor, I would have addressed it immediately. The way the Council is treating Laudium is unacceptable. Even in some of the most remote areas of South Africa, Councillors are doing a much better job than what we are seeing here in Laudium.”
