Despite failing miserably in carrying out effective service delivery to residents of Ward 61, including Laudium, Erasmia, Itireleng and Gerhardsville, the ANC-led Tshwane Council and its members, including ANC Councillor Naeem Patel, have no qualms about asking voters in the Ward to give them another five years to ‘run’ the City, seen by many as five years in the Council to further mess up on service delivery.
This follows intensive campaigning by Patel and the ANC for the forthcoming local government elections on November 4, as it is apparent that Patel is getting huge donations mainly from businesses, especially Pakistani owned businesses.
This, while residents continue to complain to the Laudium Sun concerning poor service delivery in the area. One of the many complaints received this week is the closure again of the Council owned swimming pool on 8th Ave, Laudium, heating up residents’ anger as they face hot days. Residents say that they are frustrated over the prolonged closure of the Laudium Swimming Pool, which has reportedly been closed for months, despite the season of Spring, which started on September 1, being the time when residents are meant to be using the pool after the winter season. Again, the excuse for the swimming pool not being opened is the non delivery of chlorine, which is meant to treat the pool water to keep it at a safe standard. However, staff at the pool continue going to the swimming pool each day to twiddle their thumbs, basically doing nothing as they sit in the office, yet continue receiving their full salary. To add to the incompetence of the Council, since last week there have been no security guards at the swimming pool, which merely adds to the list of poor service delivery.
Raj Pillay of 8th Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “This situation is really frustrating and disappointing for the people of Laudium, because the swimming pool should either be managed properly by the Municipality or closed permanently if there is no intention of maintaining it. There is no use having a public swimming pool in our community if residents cannot enjoy it when they need it most. During these hot weeks, people want to swim, relax and spend time with their families at the pool. However, whenever the community wants to use this facility, it is closed and we are given one excuse after another. We are extremely disappointed with the way the swimming pool is being managed. How can a public facility remain closed for months, only for residents to be told that there is again no chlorine available to treat the water? There should be better planning and accountability. The Council had the whole winter season to sort out the chlorine problems. We want to know when the pool will be reopened and an assurance should be given that the pool will remain open for the whole Spring and Summer season. We need to know what steps are being taken to ensure that this situation does not happen again. Our Councillor, Naeem Patel, appears to be more busy promoting himself and has not uttered a word about the pool being closed. Why has he not been open to the community about all the poor services residents are receiving from the Council? I do not believe enough attention is being given to the problems affecting our community. This is why I will never vote for him, not in a million years. I want to support someone who can do better for our community and genuinely cares about residents. Now we are being asked to give him another five years, but what improvements have we seen that justify another term for him? We deserve to see real changes, not just promises during election time. I believe the real issue is that he has failed to meet the expectations of Laudium residents. If he is serious about serving us, he must demonstrate it through action, accountability and results.”
Govind Chetty of Garnet Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “The swimming pool should be open by now, but unfortunately, it remains closed and residents are still waiting for answers as to why it is closed. It is disappointing to see a public facility that is supposed to serve our community being unused, when the summer season has already arrived. This situation is particularly unfair to our children, who look forward to visiting the swimming pool during the warmer months, school holidays and weekends. Swimming is an enjoyable activity for families, and the public pool gives children, especially the less privileged, an opportunity to have fun and spend time with their friends. Residents should not have to suffer because of poor planning and a lack of preparation. Our Councillor should also intervene and find out what is causing these delays. The community needs someone who will take up these issues with the relevant officials and ensure that public facilities are maintained properly. Unfortunately, I sometimes wonder whether Laudium even has a Councillor because we have not seen enough positive action from him to address the problems affecting our area.”
Nazneen Ismail of Aquamarine Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “Honestly, I am fed up with the current Council and our Councillor. The Laudium Swimming Pool has been closed for months, yet I have not seen or heard our Councillor, Naeem Patel, visiting the facility to enquire about the situation or find out what plans are in place to reopen it. Residents deserve answers because this swimming pool is an important recreational facility, especially during this warm season when children and families want to enjoy themselves. We should not have to keep asking questions about a basic public service that is meant to benefit everyone in Laudium. I am also concerned about where the Councillor’s priorities lie. Residents expect their elected representatives to focus on service delivery, community development and the problems affecting ordinary people. Instead, many of us feel that our concerns are not receiving the attention they deserve. As far as I am concerned, I will not vote for Naeem Patel again. I want a Councillor who listens to the community, takes responsibility and works towards resolving problems instead of leaving residents frustrated. People in Laudium are becoming increasingly concerned about whether their needs are being prioritised. We need leadership that treats every resident fairly, regardless of their background or political affiliation. We need action, transparency and accountability, because our community deserves better.”
When the Laudium Sun visited the public pool this week, we found the premises closed. A female staff member told us through the window that the facility was first closed due to a lack of chlorine to treat the water and now the added problem is that there are no security guards at the pool.