Following recent posts on various social media platforms by Cllr Naeem Patel, a number of upset residents have responded, claiming that Patel was once again misleading the community, speaking with a forked tongue and being untruthful.
Some residents say that it was disheartening that Patel even stooped so low as to use the tragic plight of the oppressed people of Palestine whenever it suited him, in order to score political points for himself, by misleading the public. This follows Patel posting, on his Ward 61 page this week, congratulating the appointment in the Tshwane Council of a Democratic Alliance Councillor (DA) deployed to Mamelodi. Residents say that Patel has double standards as he often criticizes the DA and shows resistance when local residents invite DA politicians to Laudium, stating that members of the DA should not be entertained as the DA was pro- Israel. Yet, when Metro Police officials from the ANC-led Council in Tshwane, beat up pro Palestinian supporters at Loftus recently, Patel did not condemn the police officials and did not call for the suspension of the officials involved. In another post, this week, Patel criticized the DA-led Western Cape Government for not supporting a motion to end all trade with Israel. However, residents say what Patel did not say is that it is the National Government led by the ANC that sets policies for trading with foreign countries and Patel did not condemn or criticize the ANC for allowing South Africa to continue trade with Israel, nor did he condemn the ANC-led Government for not imposing a sports and cultural boycott against Israel. While it is clear and unacceptable that the DA and other political parties such as the PA support Israel, despite the country carrying out atrocities against the innocent women and children in Gaza, residents say that it is also unacceptable that the ANC-led Government still allows South Africa to export coal, fruit and other minerals to Israel. In another post of Patel’s, he states that he has decided not to attend ‘the Global conference to Return to Palestine’ which was to be held in Iraq earlier this month. Patel gives his reasons as “that the invitation was extended to a well known convicted criminal who is currently under investigation.” Patel further states that the police were investigating the individual for fraud and that he “strongly believes that participating in a conference dedicated to the noble cause of Palestine alongside an individual with a questionable record would be inappropriate.”
Residents say that Patel should be ashamed of using the Palestine issue to condemn, judge and expose another person who is known to many. Some residents even said that the Palestinian cause was bigger than any individual and for Patel not to attend the important conference, showed that he did not really care about the plight of the Palestinians. Others said that the reason Patel was attacking the individual was because he became a threat to Patel due to his popularity in providing a better service to the community and the fact that the person was not charged by the police more than a year later, clearly shows that the police have no case against the person. Patel was accused of being aware of the actions of the said person, who was under Patel’s sight and speculation is that perhaps Patel was even involved with the individual in many of the wrongs. Mostly, residents say that Patel was hypocritical as he had no problem working with corrupt members of the ANC and alleged that Patel’s office manager, Paul Bennet had, over a period, been charged for several severe criminal actions including trafficking in persons, which was later withdrawn. However, Paul is also believed to be having criminal records.
The Laudium Sun tried contacting both Patel and Naeem for comment, but without any success.
