Whilst many residents in the Laudium and Erasmia areas have welcomed the erection of gates on streets in order to curb crime, there are a few who have complained.
Those who are not happy about the springing up of gates all over the area, resulting in street closures, have complained about the inconvenience these gates are causing when driving from one area to another. Also, pedestrians, especially those working in the area have also complained to the Laudium Sun, saying that they now have to walk a greater distance to get around the area.
Residents from the nearby Itireleng informal settlement have also complained about having to walk a much greater distance when attending the Laudium Hospital and say that the closures of streets can be life threatening, especially when seeking urgent medical attention at the hospital. In addition, many residing on the east side of Agra Street in Laudium Ext 2, are urging those responsible for the erection of the sealed gates, blocking the pathways leading to Military Road and to Laudium, to remove these gates as it is hampering movement from Laudium Ext to Laudium.
*Sarah Naidoo of Mahpral Heights said she believes closing the streets and pathways is against the law.*
38 year old Naeem Omar of Agra Street East, told the Laudium Sun, “For the past thirty years we have been using these pathways to get from our area into Laudium, especially to get to the school and shops in Laudium. Now we are struggling to do so because they have erected steel gates that are sealed at these pathways, blocking access completely to the Millitary Road and Laudium. We don’t know who gave these guys permission to block these pathways from our street. Now when we want to get to the Millitary Road or walk to the shops in Laudium, we have to walk right around to 19th Avenue, which is a much longer walk to go to the Laudium CBD. Many of us are sick and tired because we have to walk long distances to get to our destination. Before it was easy to access other areas in Laudium from the Ext areas, because these pathways were not blocked,” Naeem said. Another concern of residents living in his area, Naeem said was about, “Children attending Himalaya Secondary School and who get their transport in Laudium. They are also struggling because they don’t use the short cut pathways anymore as these are blocked. We don’t know the reasons why these pathways have been blocked and we have not been consulted prior to it being blocked. We are urging the people who have erected these steel gates to unblock the all the pathways leading to other areas and to remove them because they are making our lives very difficult each and every day,” Naeem fumed.
*John Chauke of Itireleng said some residents have started breaking the gates blocking pathways, out of frustration.*
Another resident, 55 year old Sarah Naidoo of 37th Avenue near Bengal Street, living at Mahpral Heights near Himalaya Secondary School told the Laudium Sun, “I reported this matter to the Council and the Councillor, because what they are doing by closing the streets and pathways, is against the law. The Municipality created those pathways for a reason many years back. Why have certain people now decided on their own to block these pathways, which is causing us a lot of inconvenience. We were not consulted by anyone for our opinion before these places were all blocked. These people are not following the by-laws, because if they want to block these pathways, they must erect a gate and employ a security officer to monitor each gate so that movement is not restricted. In other areas there are security guards to monitor the streets which are blocked by gates. Residents don’t have to walk long distances to access other areas. It’s very inconvenient for people like us who do not own cars and have to walk by using these pathways to get around. Even the school kids are struggling when they want to get to their transport or go to the shops in Laudium to buy their stationery for school. My sister, who comes from work late at night, was always dropped off near the pathway, where she usually got quick access to Agra Street from there. Now she has to walk right around from the busy 19th Ave to get onto Agra Street. What if my sister gets robbed at White Blocks? Before the pathways were not blocked, so it was easy for her to get to our area without being dropped off in White Blocks,” Sarah said.
*Naeem Omar of Agra Str East said that the blocked pathways are causing inconvenience and they were not consulted prior to the gates being erected.*
43 year old John Chauke of Itireleng said, “These pathways that are blocked are affecting us very badly because we are struggling to get easy access from other areas into Laudium by foot. We have to walk long distances to access these areas. Some of the residents, out of frustration, have now started breaking these gates that are sealed and blocking the pathways because they can’t take it anymore. School children are also affected by these blocked pathways.”
Paul Bennet from Councillor Naeem’s office told the Laudium Sun, “We are aware of the complaints. Residents cannot block those pathways especially walkovers leading to the schools. I cannot comment further and will refer to Cllr Patel.”
*The blocked pathway on Agra Str.*
*Some residents have started breaking the gates blocking the pathways*