It was amidst great enthusiasm that ANC branch members of Ward 61, together with representatives from various sectors of the community, met the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi at the ANC’s election campaign office in Erasmia, last Friday.
The Minister’s visit was on the invitation of the local branch Ward Councilor Candidate, Naeem Patel, Councilor Essop and PR candidate, Shenaaz Wasim.
A series of back to back meetings were held from 4pm, between the Minister and various community leaders. One of the purposes of the Minister’s visit was to meet the residents of Ward 61 and hear their qualms, then report back to the Presidential Task Team. The Minister met with different sectors of the community including teachers, the heads of burial societies, business people, concerned residents as well as members of Laudium Disaster Management.
During his visit, Minister Motsoaledi was informed about the recent water crisis in Laudium. The Minister immediately called the Minister of Water and Sanitation on the phone. Speaking on speaker phone, for all those present from the community to hear, Water Minister Mchunu advised that the President had made it a priority to resolve the series of water cuts in the Laudium area and an investigation had been undertaken. He also stated that investigations revealed that the DA-led municipality was tasked with building an additional pipe to deliver water to the Laudium reservoir. However, they never completed this project.
The Minister then met with a group of teachers, led by the representative of the South African Teachers Union (SADTU)-Laudium, Ms Sharmiela Bahadur. Sharmiela informed the Minister about the problem of students being coerced to buy drugs from runners acting on behalf of dealers, who openly sell the drugs. The Minister was also informed by community members at the meeting, that Laudium did not have a legitimate CPF as their term of office had expired and that the present CPF in any event, did very little if anything, to address the concerns of the community, including the high crime rate, the selling of drugs in the area and the influx of nyaopes into the area. Complaints regarding the current CPF not reporting back to the community with issues of crime were also raised. The Minister advised that the community establish a legitimate democratically elected CPF and that the elected members together with the police, should work with all sectors, including the schools.
The heads of local burial committees including the CMB, PMB as well as from other religious sectors then had an opportunity to address the Minister. They raised the issue of poor service received from Byron House (Home Affairs office), in the CBD, more so when applying for death certificates.
The Minister then went on to meet with business owners operating in the Laudium/ Erasmia area, who complained about crime and grime in the area, especially in the Laudium CBD and also the springing-up of illegal businesses from homes, without the necessary zoning being done. The Minister explained that enforcing by-laws was the function of the local council and it was clear that the DA controlled council was not capable of taking appropriate action against offenders.
The Laudium Disaster Management team was then welcomed to the ANC office, where the Minister personally acknowledged each member for the excellent work done in serving the community and commended them for their “active citizenry”. The Minister also called on all South Africans to participate in community activities.
After addressing all those present concerning general matters, the Minister, together with Ward Councilor Candidate, Naeem Patel, Councilor Essop and PR Councilor Candidate, Shenaaz Wasim, attended a splendid reception held at Laziza Restaurant in Laudium. The dinner was hosted by the Pakistani South Africa Association (PSAA). The restaurant was bedecked in ANC colors and a large banner, in support of Naeem Patel, was hung on the stage. The national anthem of South Africa and Pakistan was played and the Minister was gifted a beautiful shawl by the PSAA. The Chairperson of the PSAA, Naseer Ahmad Mia, addressed all the special guests and dignitaries present, including Mufti Akber Hazarwi of the Darul-Uloom, pledging their unwavering support for Ward Candidate, Naeem Patel and the ANC and offered their services to build Ward 61 in particular, and South Africa in general, to glory. Minister Motsoaledi then addressed the gathering, thanking the Pakistani community for their support and making it clear that the ANC, under President Ramaphosa, was committed to getting rid of corruption and improving the lives of the people. Last on the agenda was an address by Ward Candidate Naeem Patel, who thanked the Minister for his attendance and the local Pakistanis, who are part of the community, for their contributions to building South Africa and its economy. Naeem reminded the gathering of the famous saying of John F. Kennedy, “Do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
In general the Minister was well-received by the community and offered practical solutions to problems raised by them, with many commenting that it was important that the Ward Councilor had an open contact line with politicians at Provincial and National Government, so that they could be brought in, should matters not be resolved at local level, like the water crisis.
– submitted by A Bhika.
