While Cllr Patel is busy ‘licking up’ to the increasingly corrupt ANC, and his sidekick, the ‘dud’ Laudium CPF chairperson is seemingly more interested in posing for the camera, crime and grime continue unabated in Laudium.
This follows once again, Laudium residents complaining about the ANC led Tshwane Council, concerning poor service delivery in the area and the failure of the Laudium police to be pro-active in curbing crime in the area.
In one of the latest complaints received, residents say that authorities, including the local Council and the local police are turning a blind eye to an abandoned house on Himalaya Str, Laudium. This, despite according to residents, the house which has been abandoned for years by its owner, being used by nyaopes who abuse drugs, cause a nuisance and even pose a serious health hazard to the neighbourhood.
Residents also claim that many of these nyaopes are responsible for petty crime in the area and that the house which is infested by rats, has turned into a ‘spook house’ with strange noises being heard at night. Neighbour, uncle Narottam Valji, an elderly and respected member of the community, living for years on Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I’m literally tired of being a polite neighbour to this ‘spook house’ next to us. I’ve tolerated it for too long, and I think now is the time to raise my voice. I’m exhausted by the condition of this house—it’s been abandoned for years. It’s full of rats, stray dogs roam everywhere, and the smell is unbearable. We’re getting sick, and our health is deteriorating. Even though it’s abandoned, we hear strange noises at night. I suspect drug dealers or drug users are using it as a hideout. People are doing all sorts of shady things there. This house needs to be demolished. We don’t even know if the owner is still around—no one takes care of it. Homeless people come in, eat, and relieve themselves on the property. Criminals are using it constantly, and it’s harming us.”
A clearly frustrated uncle Narottam added, “This place is a threat to our children too—kids from the community are being drawn into criminal activities there. I urge the Council and the police to investigate what is going on in that house and demolish the house immediately. Its continued existence is a danger to our community and our future.”
Shah Haider, another resident of Himalaya Street, echoed the concerns of uncle Narottam, adding, “House number 246 on Himalaya Street is in terrible shape. I cannot understand why the Council is not taking legal action against the owner of the property and why the local police are not regularly raiding the place, especially at night. As far as I know, I’ve never seen the owner and now the house has become a hub for prostitution, drug lords, and other criminal activities, especially at night. Even prostitutes hide in the building. I’m scared for my life because I live next to this house, and there’s constant movement at night. The house is a danger to all of us and someone needs to take urgent action. It would be better if the house is demolished, for the safety of our community.”
Another Himalaya Str resident, Thakur Mistry, told the Laudium Sun, “The Council is well aware of this abandoned house and it’s truly a danger for our community. The Council must take responsibility, by taking legal action against the owner. This house is bringing a bad spirit to our neighbourhood and it’s not good at all. I can’t even walk past the house because the smell is so bad. At night gangsters take over the place. Something needs to be done before it gets even worse. I do not believe that the Council would turn a blind eye if this house was in one of the neighbouring suburbs of Centurion.”
said he cannot even walk past the house as the
stench is so bad.
Response
Essa Vally (Steve), owner of the so-called “Spook House” on Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun:” Whatever people are saying about this house, I reject all the allegations made against it. There is no noise coming from the house, and it is not abandoned. This house is used as a storage facility because I do not currently live in it. I have a proper security guard who takes care of the property every single day. There are no businesses operating from this house, and no one comes here — it is properly sealed. As for those who claim that prostitution is taking place here, I honestly cannot believe why anyone would spread such false accusations. People can be so insane, especially in our community.
I have a good reputation in the community, and I am the oldest Marabastad resident. Therefore, I reject all the claims made against this house and intend to take legal action against any resident who falsely accuses me or refers to this house as the ‘Spook House.'”
*Attempts to get a comment from Cllr Patel were unsuccessful, with one resident commenting previously, “Patel nowadays seems to be more busy ‘eating cake’ with the top brass of the ANC to secure a top post for himself, instead of worrying about residents in his Ward.”
