Residents in Laudium Extension 3 are fed up with both the Laudium police and the Tshwane Council, for not implementing law and order in nearby Itireleng.
From loud noise to the ever increasing number of shacks being erected on a seemingly daily basis, to the illegal connection of electricity from electric points in their area, to crime in the area, residents of Ext 3 have expressed their concerns numerous times during various engagements with politicians and officials, but the problem remains and in fact is growing. Residents claim that if a similar situation was faced by residents in the former white areas of Tshwane such as Menlyn or even Waterkloof, officials would not hesitate to take action against the perpertrators, but because the community of Ext 3, consists mainly of Indians and even some Blacks, officials are turning a blind eye.
Following our June 24 publication, amongst others, the Laudium Sun received yet another complaint of an illegal electricity connection, from residents of Ext 3.
This past Monday, (July 11) residents from the Bengal Street and Ahimsa Crescent area, complained that they had again been facing power outages since last Friday evening, even when no loadshedding was taking place. Residents said that the cause of the outage was illegal connections to their nearby mini sub- station electricity box, by some of the illegal shack dwellers from the Itireleng area. Some residents claim that they saw at least two suspects who were armed, at the box and when residents got together and went to confront them, the suspects ran away.
According to the residents the pair of suspects had damaged the tamper proof box and caused the main switch to trip at the mini substation. Power was only restored after 48 hours as the council team could not open the one side of the box. Later on Monday afternoon, the Laudium Sun was called to a home on Bengal Street that had no electricity. Whilst walking in the area, near the house, our reporters spotted an illegal wire connection from one of the electricity poles in Laudium, leading to about 60 nearby shacks.
As Councillor Naeem Patel is out of town for the week, the Laudium Sun contacted Shakeel Bhaktawar from Councillor Patel’s office, who immediately came to the scene. Shakeel told the Laudium Sun, (this past Wednesday -July 13), “We have reported the illegal connection to the council’s Revenue Department on Monday and asked them to send a team to disconnect it, but 48hours later, still nothing has been done. We have now taken this matter up with the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee to intervene, as this kind of poor response is not acceptable. We have learnt that people in the shacks pay these criminals a weekly fee for electricity, which they steal from either electric connections of homes from Laudium residents, or from the Council, by tapping on the sub-station or electric poles. Illegal connections are becoming a major issue in our community. We understand the frustrations of the community, as we read the Laudium Sun weekly. Whilst we are trying our best to serve the community, we are dependent on Council officials and the Mayor and his executive team.”
One of the residents in the area, who complained about the illegal connections, Fouad Sayed of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It feels like it’s useless to report or complain every time about the problems of illegal connections, loud music and crime, that we as residents in the area are facing on a daily basis, due to many of these inconsiderate guys living in Itireleng. Nothing is being done about our complaints and those of us living on Bengal Street and Ahimsa Crescent have to bear the brunt each day. The politicians and authorities do not seem concerned about our problems. It is getting out of hand and it is so unfair for us to suffer because of this.”
The Laudium Sun also spoke to resident Zakiyah Abdool Khader of Ahimsa Crescent, who said, “Months back we laid a complaint against these Itireleng residents who were playing loud music and also on other previous occasions we complained about many other things that are really affecting us. We are again pleading with the Council, through your paper, to help us. Even if they can try and close up the one entrance to where Bengal Street ends, for the sake of our safety, this would help.”
