As more and more residents complain about crime and grime in the Laudium/Erasmia area, it seems that the ANC’s Cllr Patel and the ANC’s Shaheen Wahab, responsible (many would say very much irresponsible) for the Laudium and Erasmia CPF’s, have no clue or plan as to how to deal with these complaints.
Ironically, despite the pair claiming to have walked the streets around the area, in order to familiarize themselves with the problems residents face, to date the pair have has not issued any reports on their findings. This, despite many residents saying that the area is going from bad to worse concerning crime and grime.
One of the concerns that residents have been complaining about for years, which has still not be addressed, is the pedestrian bridge linking Agra Str East and Garnet Street, Laudium. The steel bridge is rusted and requires urgent repairs as it a safety hazard. It is also a hub for criminal activity, with the area around the bridge continuing to be a dumping site. Residents fear that the bridge, which was once a vital connection for pedestrians from Laudium Ext 2/3 going to the shops in Laudium, is about to collapse. Many residents say that criminals openly operate around the bridge, with incidents such as mugging, pickpocketing, and other crimes frequently taking place there and that they are not even reporting such incidents to the police as the police do nothing to stop the criminals operating in the area.
Jason Govender, a resident of Agra Street East in Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “The bridge is really dangerous for residents like us. Just a few days ago, I saw three criminals, one of them with a knife, robbing an African lady while she was crossing the bridge in the evening. It’s becoming a hotspot for criminal activity. People are getting mugged there too often. There is a lot of crime happening around the bridge and no one is doing anything about it. Honestly, I am not even sure if we even need the bridge anymore, which requires serious renovation. As long as it’s there, criminals will keep using it as a base to hide, sell drugs and carry out illegal activities. What the bridge is bringing to our community is crime. It’s not helpful to residents at all. I request that the Council demolish the bridge and come up with a new initiative for that space… something that actually benefits the community. Criminals are operating in broad daylight and harassing residents, all because of that bridge. The residents are not even reporting the crime to the police as the police do nothing about it.”
Hussain Ebrahim of Garnet Street in Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “The bridge is in very bad condition and it’s extremely scary, especially at night, as a lot of criminal activity takes place there. It’s not safe for residents at all, especially for women who cross the bridge from one area to another. It has become very unsafe for them. The City Council must demolish the bridge because it’s causing more problems due to the crime and dumping around it. Right now, the bridge is a paradise for gangsters in our area and many crimes like muggings, stabbings and robberies are happening right in front of our eyes, with the police and Council turning a blind eye to the problems. I don’t understand what the Council is waiting for. This bridge is not helpful to any of the residents. All it brings us is fear and headaches due to the constant criminal activities happening around it.”
Alli Mohomed, also of Garnet Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The bridge is in total collapse and it’s bringing a lot of crime to our area. Recently, there was a stabbing incident where three thugs attacked someone and stole his cellphone and money. The bridge is in a terrible condition and no one is doing anything about it. The police are not prepared to monitor the area, thus the Council needs demolish it because it’s really scary out there, especially at night, when these criminals sit there and openly commit crimes. We want a healthy and peaceful society. We don’t want to attract criminals or allow them to continue their activities around the bridge. It’s time for the authorities to take action.”
