As more and more residents complain about ANC Councillor Naeem Patel, who they claim is arrogant, rude and dishonest, especially when dealing with the poor, Naeem seems to still be living in ‘cooku land’ believing that he is ‘untouchable’ as a Councillor as he has the backing of the ANC, regarded by many as the most corrupt political party.
Council.
Residents say that Naeem treats many of them with contempt and disrespect, especially those who are poor, but treats foreign nationals living in the area, especially those from Pakistan with utmost respect, as they are his main sponsors and supporters.
This follows a number of residents from White Blocks saying that they are upset and tired of the Ward 61 Councillor Naeem Patel, due to his constant bad behaviour towards White Blocks residents and the poor service delivery in the area and that is the reason why so few residents even attend his meetings.
Dorthy Moodley (70), a resident of Jacinth Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I want to share an incident I experienced with our Councillor. I have supported the ANC for over 30 years, even helping with canvassing and elections. Recently, I attended a community meeting at a school where Cllr Naeem Patel was present. I was told the meeting was about electricity. Although I don’t have a problem with electricity at my home, I went so that I could listen, understand, and explain to our community what was happening. Before the meeting even started, Cllr Naeem said that some of the people sitting at the meeting had children driving BMWs, selling drugs, and spinning tyres. I looked around, there were only four or five of us from White Blocks present. I asked Naeem directly, ‘Are you talking about me? Because my son drives a BMW, but he is not a drug dealer. So who are you referring to?’ At that point, Naeem’s office manager, Paul told him, ‘Let’s go, because Auntie Dorthy likes to disrupt the meetings.’ I became upset and said, ‘Why do you say I am disrupting? Naeem seems to be badmouthing my child. How do you expect me to keep quiet?’ Naeem then told me, ‘You’re just angry because I didn’t give you a blanket.’ I replied, ‘What blanket are you talking about? I don’t want your blanket. I don’t need your blanket. I have very good blankets that I sleep with.’ I then left the meeting. Later, at another meeting at the Civic Centre, only a few of us were present. Naeem again said that he doesn’t need votes from the White Blocks people, because he already has enough support. He said if he calls us to a meeting, it doesn’t mean he wants our votes. At yet another meeting, when only a handful of us arrived, he asked, ‘Where are the people who said they are going to take me on?’ I looked around, confused, because only a few of us were there. He then said that people post about him on their phones, but never come forward to debate. At that same meeting, he told some official at the meeting that there are no potholes in Laudium and that if there were, we should show him. But two women present had evidence—one even had a photo after falling into a drain on 19th Avenue. We also asked about streetlights and drains that were not fixed. Naeem told us to go around, check what’s broken and report it to the Council for a reference number. I asked him, ‘Is it our job to do that? We pay rates and taxes. Why must we do the Council’s work?’ I reminded Naeem about the broken drain near the Police Station, which has been there for a very long time, yet never fixed. I also told him, ‘Stop lying to us.’ The Civic Centre is empty because people are tired of the same promises. Nothing ever gets done. When we attend meetings, we don’t want to hear about your personal fights or what people are saying about you. We want to know what you are doing for us. You are sitting there because we put you there. You are our Councillor. At one point, I reminded him that he once told us he only works four hours a day, but now he claims he works 24 hours. Which one is it? I also told him that he has no respect for elders or women. In one meeting, he even pushed his chair towards me and asked if I wanted to sit on it. I told him, ‘No, you sit on your chair, because that’s where you belong, to sit and tell more lies.’ That’s why I eventually walked out. Every time it’s the same, he prepares stories, but nothing changes. He must sort out his personal problems. We are there for the community. And I just want to say this: ‘Naeem, at the rate you’re carrying on, the ANC is not going to win this coming election. Everywhere you go, people are unhappy. I don’t even know how to explain it to you. I speak to so many people and they keep asking me what’s happening. It used to be so nice to be part of the ANC many years ago. But now, no thank you. I don’t want to be ANC anymore. I’m done with the ANC now. And it’s because of you, Naeem, because you are rude. You don’t know how to speak to people. You treat us as if we are nothing. You always want to be right, and then you insult us in front of people. That’s not right. You call us to the meetings so that we can speak our hearts, but when we do, you attack us and make it a problem. That is why so few people even attend your meetings. Stop being angry with the whole world. Fix yourself, so that you can fix the ANC and maybe then people will vote for you.”
Centre, Cllr Naeem Patel said he doesn’t need votes from the people of White Blocks.
Patricia Aurakeasamy, a resident of Primrose Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I went to the meeting and I really disliked what happened. When we arrived, we sat down, and I approached Councillor Naeem to ask him about the hole I fell into. That hole is still open. I asked him, ‘What are you doing about it? I had to go to the doctor because of this.’ He refused to help, saying we must first have a reference number. I told him, ‘Every time my grandchildren walk up and down, what if they fall into that hole? What if my 75 year-old mother falls in there?’ The drain was blocked opposite and when I went across, I fell into it. Two people had to lift me up. But still, he was very rude and abrupt. Dorthy also approached him and said, ‘Listen here, what are you going to do? You’re not keeping your promises.’ That’s when he started getting rude. He answered a few questions, but when Dorthy spoke again, he got angry. Eventually she walked out. After she left, they said she doesn’t understand and that she needs to have patience, that things are being done. They also discussed the lights and other issues, but when I asked again, Naeem told me he cannot help me at all without a reference number. Then Paul Bennett stood up and said, ‘Go the next day, and you’ll get a reference number.’ But until now, since that meeting, nobody has gotten back to me. Nobody phoned me. Nobody told me what is happening. I’m very busy with work, I’m in pain, and I really need help. At one point, they even told Dorthy, ‘Do you want to come and take my place in front? Since it seems like you know more than me. I’m the Councillor, but it seems that you want to be the Councillor.’”
Maria Samanta, another resident of Primrose Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “Councillor Naeem Patel is doing nothing for White Blocks. The drain on 19th Avenue is still not fixed, and many accidents are happening because of the open drain cover. The service delivery is pathetic. In the next election, we don’t want to see Naeem as our Councillor. We need a better Councillor, someone who can maintain good relations with the residents, no matter their race or religion.”
