As crime continues unabated in the Laudium area, residents are concerned that the influx of unemployed people coming into the area, desperately looking for food and money, is not effectively being addressed by the leadership within the community.
It is common knowledge that the economy has significantly weakened, due to Covid and that unemployment has increased, especially amongst the youth. Each day, more and more of those unemployed, mainly youth, are seen roaming the streets of Laudium. Crime in the area, especially petty crime, has escalated drastically in recent times and residents are accusing many of these youths, especially those who are on drugs (nyaopes), to be behind the crimes. Many of these nyaopes have left their families due to poverty and are now living in the Laudium area, sleeping in the parks, behind shops and in vacant building spaces. Vacant or abandoned homes are also being used by these nyaopes as temporary accommodation, much to the irritation of nearby residents. It is apparent that residents who can afford it, are moving out of the area and into security estates, due to the high crime rate and the influx of nyaopes. Thus, a greater number of homes are being left vacant, as the owners try to find buyers who are prepared to pay a replacement value. However, estate agents say that as locals move out of the area, it is mostly foreigners, such as Pakistanis and Indians who are buying the homes, but at half the value. A number of homes are also being repossessed by banks, due to residents being unable to meet their financial obligations, thus these homes remain vacant for some time, before they are sold by the bank concerned.One of those irked by a vacant home next door to him, is Seelin Padayachy, a resident on Marble Street, Laudium, who lamented to the Laudium Sun, “Last Friday at around 10am, I was at home, when I heard a strange noise coming from outside my house. When I went out to see what was happening, my neighbor who lives opposite me, told me that the noise was coming from the house next door to me, which has been unoccupied for a while. He also said that he saw a young nyaope guy leaving the house, carrying a TV. This same guy had the audacity to return a little bit later, as I am sure he realised that no one was living there. Fortunately, we spotted him and then immediately called the cops and security company. I think it was only one guy who went into my neighbour’s home, as we saw him only. When this guy spotted us, he jumped really quickly from the neighbour’s yard into my yard, sprinting into the next yard and then towards 18th Ave, and disappeared. These guys are strong and fit. I was stunned to see him jump and run away so quickly, before the police could even come. It is very scary for us to live like this. But, I understand that there are no jobs and poverty can push people to desperate actions. I hope the police increase monitoring in our area, as crime is escalating rapidly. When we went to the neighbour’s house to see what was damaged there, we found the door had been damaged and a window broken.”
