Just how much more poor service delivery and ‘cover-ups’ should residents in the Laudium/Erasmia area tolerate from the ANC-led Tshwane Council and ANC Ward Councillor, Naeem Patel?
This is the question many residents are asking, as excuses after excuses are made by Patel concerning the falling or even failing of services in the area.
This follows residents on Pearl Str expressing their frustration concerning an ongoing leaking sewage drain for about 10 days now, which poses a health risk to all living in or walking past the area. Residents say that despite Council workers seemingly attending to the leak more than a week ago, the problem still persists, as dirty water is once more accumulating at the same spot of the previous leak.
Ramanand Sagar, a resident of Pearl Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “The sewage leak started from outside our house on August 12 and we reported it to the Council immediately. The Council came the following day to fix it, but the situation is still terrible, there is sewage again building up and the smell is disgusting, which is causing serious health problems for our children. The sewage water is leaking a lot in front of my house
because the Council workers did not fix the problem properly. This is not the first time it has happened; the leakage occurs regularly outside our house and the Council never fixes it properly. I am sure that within a few days this sewage drain will leak more. The Council must come and fix up the blocked pipe, as it is detrimental to our health. It is also a major
inconvenience when we take our cars out, as the sewage water is right in front of my driveway This is really disgusting and the Council must take proper action. Naeem Patel must step up and start servicing all the residents, not only a few. This is a crisis we are facing because the water gathering in front of my house comes from the sewage system, and the smell is unbearable, we can’t even stand outside. I hope our voice, through the
Laudium Sun, reaches Naeem Patel so that he can attend to this problem. I know he reads the paper, judging by the comments he makes after the paper comes out on a Friday.”
Ketan Patel, also of Pearl Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The water on Pearl Street, caused by a sewage drain leakage, is really horrible and the Council workers didn’t fix it up properly the last time. The smell is awful and we can’t even walk past it. When cars drive by, the water splashes, making it very difficult to cross the street. I hope the Council comes to our street to fix this leak of sewage water. Every single month we face the same problem; water accumulating at the exact same spot because the drain keeps leaking. The Council workers must come and fix this problem immediately and permanently. We have really had enough of the Council’s pathetic service.”
Abdul Kadir Mohammed, another resident of Pearl Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun,
“The sewage drain leakage that has caused this water gathering on Pearl Street is really disgusting. Our children can’t even pass by because of the terrible smell and what is more terrible is that some children are even playing in that dirty water. This is completely unacceptable. I heard the Council workers came to fix the blockage about a week back, but clearly they did not fix the problem properly as water is still gathering there, which is creating havoc. This is completely unacceptable, and the Council must come and fix it immediately.”
Prajay Ramjee, in his initiative of Fixing Ward 61, told the Laudium Sun, “As a Councillor I drive around to see if there are any service delivery issues that I can report, even if it’s something small. This sewage drain water is one of many issues I have found. I use the e Tshwane portal, which I often share with residents, as they can receive references instantly. I have reported potholes, damaged storm drains, missing manhole covers, fresh water or sewer leaks and tree pruning, using this link. I believe that a lot of service delivery issues can be addressed, if residents report the issue and send the references to any of us Councillors, to escalate.”