While certain exco members of the Laudium CPF, including the Acting Chair, who is also the head of South African Pakistani Association, Zahid ul-Zaman and CPF Secretary, Mohammad Noor, seem to be more busy taking photos with Cllr Patel, promoting his campaign to stand for the ANC (seen by many as a corrupt party), for another 5 year term as Ward Councillor for Ward 61, residents in the Laudium area continue to have sleepless nights due the ongoing crime.
This follows yet another robbery in Laudium, this time at the home of Dr Ebrahim Hassim in the security gated street area of Taj Street. Yet again a Toyota was stolen during the robbery that took place the previous Sunday night at around 9pm. According to reports three Black males entered the home of the retired elderly doctor, pointed guns at him and a caretaker, demanding valuables. The armed thugs managed to leave the premises after stealing a number of valuables, including cellphones, a laptop and the Toyota, without being spotted by the police or CPF Patrollers.
Imran Mtarira, caretaker at the targeted Taj Street home, told the Laudium Sun, “I was inside the house together with my boss the doctor, when we were attacked. Before the attack everything was normal, until we suddenly heard a loud noise coming from the front gate. It was a shocking sound and I immediately went outside to see what was happening. As soon as I stepped out from the house into the yard, I was confronted by three armed thugs. They approached me very aggressively and one of them pointed a gun directly at me, demanding that I hand over everything I had. I was caught completely off guard and was terrified, as these thugs had already jumped over the fence and gained access to the property. I had just gone outside just to check the noise and that is how they managed to catch me. The situation quickly escalated as the armed thugs then forced their way towards the main house with me, where my boss was seated. One of the robbers pointed a firearm at him as well and demanded that he hand over everything in his possession. They specifically demanded the keys to the Toyota that was parked in the yard. Out of fear for our lives, we had no choice but to comply with their demands. The robbers took the car keys, my boss’s cellphone, his laptop, and even my cellphone. The entire incident happened very quickly. I would say they were in the yard and house for less than five minutes before they fled the scene. Despite this short time, it felt like a very long and terrifying experience. This was a terrible and traumatic experience for my boss and me. I have never gone through anything like this in my life before and it has left me shaken. What is even more concerning is that crime in this area seems to be getting worse every day. Incidents like this are becoming so common and it is very worrying for residents. I truly hope that my boss will be able to recover his vehicle and the belongings that were stolen. We are grateful that no one was physically harmed, but the emotional impact of this incident will stay with us for a long time.”
said he and his boss complied with the demands of the armed thugs out of fear for their lives.
Salma Gani of Taj Street, who did not want her full photo to be shown, told the Laudium Sun, “When news of the attack at the doctor’s residence reached me, I felt deeply disturbed and concerned about what is happening in our neighbourhood. It is extremely troubling to think that such a situation could occur at a home where an elderly man lives with only his caretaker. People like him should feel safe and protected, yet it seems that criminals are
becoming more brazen and are no longer showing any regard for age or vulnerability. Living on this street has become increasingly worrying. Over time, there has been a noticeable rise in unlawful activities and residents are starting to feel anxious about their safety. It no longer feels like the peaceful environment we once enjoyed, despite the street security gates in our area. Instead, there is a growing sense of fear, especially during the evenings, as many residents are uncertain about who could be attacked next. What makes matters worse is the absence of visible security presence. I hardly ever see police patrol vehicles driving through our area or even the CPF Community Patrollers, who seem to be missing. Without any form of regular monitoring by the police, it creates an opportunity for offenders to operate freely. It gives the impression that there is little to no deterrent, and that is something that deeply concerns many of us who live here. There is also a feeling among residents that the criminals committing these acts are becoming more confident because they believe there will be no consequences. When individuals act without fear of being caught, it leads to a dangerous environment for everyone. It becomes difficult to even trust that help will arrive when needed and that uncertainty only adds to the stress people are already experiencing. Many families in this area have worked hard to build their homes and create a stable life, yet incidents like this make us feel as though all of that effort can be taken away in a matter of minutes. It is heart breaking to see how quickly things can change and how easily people’s sense of security can be shattered.”
