-Laudium Sun lauded

Another week has passed and once more reports of more crime in the Laudium area continue to pour in.

Yet again, residents remain despondent with poor police service as criminals continue to walk the streets of Laudium freely, unlawfully entering private properties freely, stealing whatever they want freely, walking away with the stolen items in their hands on Laudium Streets freely and to top it all going back freely to the very same houses they broke into, walking away again freely. No, this is not the summary of a fiction movie, but sadly and very unfortunately so, the reality of what has occurred in Laudium this past week, with seemingly similar incidents having occurred for a long time now.

Just how is this kind of situation being carried out right under the noses of the police, who are supposed to protect and serve the community, to say nothing of the various private security vehicles patrolling the area. Just when will the people of Laudium be taken seriously by those who are in authority? If the Minister of Police does not take the community’s plight seriously, how is the patrol van constable, who is in charge of protecting the community during his shift expected to take the community seriously? Leaders should act by example and clearly Minister Bheki Cele, has not set a good example, after promising to again meet the community of Ward 61, when campaigning in the area, for the November 1 Local Government Elections. At the time of the campaign, a number of residents expressed their concerns about high crime and poor policing in the area. The Minister stated that he could not give feedback, as he was not with his police generals, but promised to hold an Imbizo in the area, before year end, with the community, the top police brass and the local police in charge of both Laudium and Erasmia Police Stations. It is now about nine months later and the Minister’s office has not even had the courtesy to inform the relevant stakeholders when he plans to come to the area.

Himalaya Str home targeted twice.

The frustrations once more of the community, follow a break-in into a Himalaya Street property twice within less than a week. It is suspected that the same culprit was involved, with residents asking just where the police are.

This follows a distress call that went viral on social media last Saturday evening (Sept 17) at around 7:00pm. The caller informed the community of a break-in into his car and asked for residents to be on the lookout for his stolen car radio. According to the voice note, a thief or thieves had broken the back window of his car and his car radio and other items that were in the car at the time, were also stolen.

The owner of the car, Omar Bapiki of Himalaya Street had parked his car outside his house as usual. But before calling it a night, he went out to bring his car inside the garage. That is when he noticed the back window broken and the items missing. Although he posted of the ordeal on social media, Omar at the time did not open a case with the police.

Suspect spotted on premises

This past Tuesday (Sept 20), the Laudium Sun team, comprising of two females, went to Omar’s home on Himalaya Street, to obtain more info on the break-in of his car. However, on arrival they found the palliside gate closed, with no one answering, despite one of the two garage doors being half-way open. But then the team became suspicious as to why the garage door was open and pretended to leave, but just hid out of sight of the house and when they looked in again, they spotted a black male in the yard. The pair immediately recognized and called him by his nickname, Majozi, as he was known to them through previous complaints against him, by readers. Majozi then came up to the closed gate and they asked him what was he doing in the yard and where were the residents of the house. Majozi threated the female pair to leave.

The Laudium Sun reporters, immediately then called for backup from the police and Shakeel Bhaktawer from Cllr Patel’s office, as they believed that a crime was being committed. However, when Majozi saw them busy on their mobile, he immediately went into the open garage, grabbed a small blue generator, opened the gate and walked out. As he walked down Himalaya Street in broad daylight, without fear of being caught by the police, the brave pair of reporters followed him, by walking behind him, with one videoing him and the other keeping police and Shakeel informed, about where exactly they were. Majozi then turned on the pair of female reporters by flinging stones at them. That is when the pair got into their car, in order to protect themselves (rightfully so), but still followed Majozi from a distance, to see where he was going.

Shakeel Bhaktawer, from Councillor Patel’s office who arrived first, had just gone into the veld with a nearby security guard, when a police patrol van eventually arrived. The reporters informed the police that Majozi had slipped into the long grass area, but instead of the police going into the veld from the other side of the open space, they merely drove away without saying anything further to the reporters.

Shakeel said, “The crime situation in our ward is going out of hand. Criminals are now even more daring, committing crimes in broad day light and in this case in full view of witnesses. This is what transpired on Tuesday, when I was called by the Laudium Sun team seeking help, as they were witnessing a possible crime taking place at a home on Himalaya Street. I rushed up and when I got there, I met the team who directed me to where the suspect ran into the bush with a generator in his possession. Myself, security and personnel from the neighboring water plant went into the bush. The SAPS pulled up at the street corner, but no one jumped out to assist in the chase. We searched the veld area and found nothing. We searched the shopping centre area and it was found that the thief walked across towards Military Road. We literally allowed this suspect to get away because of the lack of urgency to the call of distress, especially from the SAPS. We are now working closely with all departments to begin a stringent process of finding a way of ridding our society of all these criminal elements. The nyaope addicts are the main problem in this ward. All illegal business operations will feel the wrath of the law as they contribute to the crime, by buying stolen goods. We are now going to engage our CPF in ways of starting this process.”

Sergeant Simon Chokoe of the Laudium Police, said, “I am aware of the incident through social media, but there was no case opened. I plead to the community to report all crimes to the police.”

Meanwhile newly appointed Head of Visible Policing, Captain Pakree, immediately called the female reporters for more information after learning of the incident on the Laudium Sun FB page. The patrol crew were also called in to explain as to why they did not assist in the search at the veld. According to the patrol crew, they thought it would be best to go to a certain white house in White Blocks, where they expected the suspect to sell the generator. However, the suspect was not found there.

Station Commander vows to act

The newly appointed Station Commander, Lieutenant Colonel David Sithole, who also saw the video footage of the suspect carrying the generator on social media, called the Laudium Sun to obtain further information on the matter.

His office added…
Good afternoon sir. The Station Commander has noted this report with keen interest. Disciplinary steps will be taken against incompetence. The owner will be traced to open a case of burglary for investigation. The suspect will be traced. Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the Station Commander and working well together. Thanks for your vigilance which is truly appreciated, in the spirit of Neighbourhood Watch.
– Lt Colonel Sithole, Station Commander, Laudium.

*To see the video footage taken by the Laudium Sun team, of the suspect walking freely away with the generator, see the Laudium Sun FB page.