With crime still continuing in the gated areas of Laudium, residents in these areas are calling on Cllr Naeem Patel and CPF Chair, Shaheen Wahab (the TikTok comedian who seemingly thinks crime is a joke), to account to the community as to what role they played in the appointment of the security company manning most, if not all, the gates in the area.
In yet another claim of Naeem ‘capturing Ward 61’ it is believed that the two played a leading role in ‘ensuring’ that the security company of their preference, ‘Khan’s Security’ which is regarded by many as part of Naeem’s ‘cabal,’ was appointed to ‘guard the street gates and seemingly that is why the pair is remaining silent, concerning the ongoing crime in these gated areas.
The pair has also remained silent on claims that the said guards do not have the necessary security training, are not properly equipped and are underpaid in terms of the prescribed minimum wage.
This follows yet another incident of crime in a gated area of Laudium, this time on Himalaya Street, where a car was stolen last Thursday afternoon (Oct 2), in broad daylight. The white Toyota Yaris (registration- BF 24 DC GP), was parked outside a small blocks of flats on Himalaya Street, Laudium, when three thieves, who arrived in a silver car at around 2:30pm, managed to go through the street gate without being stopped or any suspicions being raised. The guard from Khan’s Security, who was on duty and stationed next to the flats outside which the Yaris was stolen, said there were many cars going up and down the street so he doesn’t know what happened.
Abdul Mahomed, the owner of the car that was stolen and a resident of Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I went to the Darul Uloom Mosque, which is situated near my flat on Taj Street, at around 1:15pm and returned home at about 1:45pm. Since the Mosque is so near, I didn’t take my car and went walking. I parked my car in front of my flat in the parking area and when I came back from Mosque, my car was still parked there and everything was fine. I went inside my place and was relaxing for a while because I usually go out at around 2:30pm to fetch my wife from work. However, when I came out at 2:30pm and went to the parking area, my car was gone. I was shocked because it had been there just an hour earlier. I could not understand how it could vanish so suddenly. I literally started shivering because that is my only car, which I worked so hard to buy. I panicked, called my relatives, asked the security guard and started searching everywhere, but the car was nowhere to be found. I then called the Police and registered a case as the car had been stolen. I also asked my landlord to check the CCTV footage and that’s when I saw that two Black guys climbing off a silver looking car, had stolen my car at around 2:30pm. This is a huge loss for me because inside the car were two Lenovo laptops and R600 in cash, which was also taken. What I don’t understand is how my car could be stolen in broad daylight, right outside of my flat, with the security guard from Khan’s Security sitting at the nearby gate. The Himalaya Street gate is just beside my house, so it makes no sense that this happened under full security presence. When they installed the gate, I thought we would finally have safety and security, but I guess I was wrong. It feels like there is no safe place in Laudium anymore. I humbly request that if anyone has any information about my car, please contact the SAPS. This would be a great help because I bought this car with my hard earned money and I cannot afford to lose it just like that.”
Amira Haider of Himalaya Street, Laudium, who lives opposite Abdul’s flat, told the Laudium Sun, “I was sitting at my house when I noticed a man, a Black African individual wearing a yellow shirt, roaming up and down in front of my house. At first, I didn’t pay much attention, thinking maybe he was just looking for something. But when I later heard about the theft of Uncle Abdul’s car, I realised that the guy could be part of the group who stole the car. This is very concerning. How can thieves steal a car in broad daylight, right next to the security gate of this gated area, while a security guard is on duty? It seems very suspicious and a proper investigation needs to be carried out. Honestly, we cannot trust those security guards from Khan’s Security. I believe that they are not professional and often seem to be high on drugs. The police must investigate how a car could be stolen right in the view of the security guard’s presence.”
Kenneth Kubu, the security guard from Khan’s Security, who was on duty on Himalaya Street at the time of the incident, told the Laudium Sun, “I was on duty when the theft happened and it took place right next to where I was. I honestly don’t know how it happened, as there are many cars moving up and down the street and it may have slipped past my eyes.”
