The Concerned Community Forum (CCF) held a public meeting last Friday evening, November 14, at the Laudium Bowling Club at 7pm.
It was a productive and engaging community meeting, attended by approximately 40 residents. Invitations were extended to: Cllr Naeem Patel, CPF Chairperson: Shaheen Wahab, LGC Chairperson: Aniel Soma and Ward 61 RA Chairperson: Zakiya Sheik. The PR Councillors in the area were also invited: Cllr Novina Pillay, Cllr Dumisani Twala and Cllr Prajay Ramjee. We appreciate the apologies received from: – Cllr Patel, – Shaheen Wahab, – Cllr Pillay and – Cllr Twala. Unfortunately, there were no responses from: LGC Chairperson: Aniel Soma and – Ward 61 RA Chairperson: Zakiya Sheik. We also acknowledge, with appreciation, the attendance of Executive Members of the Jacaranda Gating Committee and their willingness to engage in discussions. While several important issues were highlighted, the session brought valuable clarity, strengthened dialogue, and allowed residents to express their views freely and respectfully.
CLARIFICATION:
*Who the CCF is: We reaffirmed that the CCF serves as a bridge between residents and key stakeholders.
- Exists to facilitate concerns, escalate issues, and ensure accountability.
- Provides a safe and accessible platform for those who feel unable to speak publicly.
- Is apolitical, independent, and run entirely by dedicated volunteers.
- Welcomes all residents from Laudium and Erasmia.
- Has no affiliation to any political party, organisation, or interest group.
- The CCF is committed to constructive, respectful, solutions-focused engagement — not confrontation or criticism.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the CCF and create a platform for more community engagement to address challenges we are currently faced with. However, residents who were present at the meeting raised serious concerns regarding the gating project and that became a focal point of discussion.
Exco member of the Jacaranda Gating Committee, Vineet Rama, clarified that there are 13 gating committees in Laudium and all are independently managed. This caused confusion and residents expressed that greater clarity is needed on how these committees operate under the LGC umbrella, specifically on how decisions are made. Residents however expressed strong support for safety initiatives and gating and acknowledged the effort behind the project. Concerns centred around process, transparency, and communication, rather than the gates themselves.
KEY CONCERNS INCLUDED:
- Limited communication regarding ongoing LGC meetings. Residents feeling unheard or unclear about decisions made.
- A need for recorded and publicly accessible minutes – the LGC has regular meetings with a team consisting of 2 exco members from each committee, however, there are no minutes / resolutions ever shared after the meetings.
- The inconvenience caused by permanent daytime gate closures has not been addressed or resolved, which contributes to the frustration.
- Due to the lack of engagement- there is a perception that gates are causing division – even if unintentionally so.
Despite these challenges, residents demonstrated a strong desire for unity, clarity, and collaborative improvement. Cllr Prajay further provided information from his engagement with TMPD and mentioned possible safety initiatives that could collaboratively enhance the current gating project.
CCF ADDRESSED THE PERCEPTION OF BIAS:
Some attendees raised concerns about perceived bias – in certain public responses.
To clarify:
The CCF only responds to misinformation or defamatory statements made in closed groups. All CCF responses are shared openly and transparently on our public platform. The CCF is and has always been, open to collaboration with all stakeholders- in the best interests of our community.
We have repeatedly invited Cllr Patel, the Ward Committee and Ward 61 RA for constructive engagement and remain committed to doing so.
We value the positive working relationships established with: Cllr Prajay Ramjee, Cllr Novina Pillay and Cllr Dumisani Twala. We also acknowledge the strong community support we receive from residents across the Ward.
COMMUNITY RESOLUTION AND MANDATE:
Residents unanimously requested that the CCF facilitate a formal joint engagement between residents and: – Ward Councillor Naeem Patel,
- Community Policing Forum, – Ward 61 RA,
- Laudium Gating Committee (LGC) & its 13 associations and the three – PR Councillors.
The goal is to bring all key role-players into one room to address the issues impacting residents and to restore unity and clear communication.
KEY TOPICS FOR MEETING;
- Restoring Community Unity.
- Strengthening the Gating Project Together.
- Residents fully support improved safety and are seeking:
- Consistent, transparent communication.- Regular public updates.
- Clear processes and unified decision making.
- Joint resolutions on Gate closures — especially during the day — which are creating challenges.
- Residents wish to find solutions that prioritise safety without compromising accessibility.
- A clear explanation of the LGC Structure:
- A walkthrough of how the 13 associations collaborate.
- How representatives are elected.
- Their mandate and accountability procedures.
- Legality & TMPD Engagement – if any approvals are pending or provisional, residents seek:
- Full transparency.
- Access to correspondence.
- Clear timelines and next steps.
REAFFIRMING THE CCF’s PURPOSE:
The CCF remains committed to: – Building bridges, – Encouraging accountability, – Supporting safety and service delivery. – Promoting unity and clarity.
PROPOSED JOINT PUBLIC MEETING: Proposed Date: 09 December 2025, TIME: 7pm, VENUE: TBC, but centrally accessible venue to ensure equal access for all residents.
AGENDA:
Residents are invited to submit agenda items to ensure your concerns are represented. The CCF remains committed to positive, collaborative progress — and we look forward to the upcoming joint engagement as a major step in the right direction.
CLOSING MESSAGE:
The meeting demonstrated hope, unity and a shared desire for solutions. Our strength lies in unity. When we listen to one another with respect, work together with purpose, and commit ourselves to what uplifts every resident, we rise above division and build a community that is fair, safe, and thriving for all. Unity does not mean we must always agree — it means we value one another’s voices, seek honest dialogue, and act in the best interests of the entire community. When transparency guides our decisions and collective action drives our efforts, we create a neighbourhood where everyone feels included, protected, and empowered. Together, we shape a community defined not by conflict, but by collaboration, accountability, and shared progress.
-Submitted by: Lushika Mooloo
-CONCERNED COMMUNITY FORUM
