As crime and grime continues to be a major problem for residents in the Laudium area, residents in the Jet Street area in particular, continue to complain about poor law by the local SAPS and the Metro police and also against poor service delivery by the local council, in not maintaining the area.
One of the biggest problems that residents in the area have been complaining about, over a long period, is the Jet Street Park, opposite to where they live. Residents say that the park has become a haven for criminals and nyaopes, who not only sit there during the days and nights, but also sleep there. Residents say that besides the park being a non-go area for them and their children, due to the many bad elements there, it has become a place of filth and danger, as their homes are being targeted by the criminal elements that watch their homes from the park.
This follows a recent break-in, into one of the homes on Jet Street, which has once more infuriated the neighbourhood, that has again asked for the SAPS and Metro Police to act against the bad elements that frequent and even live in the park and for the council to fix the non-functioning street lights and to have the park cleaned up more often. In the latest incident, a home opposite the park was invaded by thieves during the early hours of this Wednesday (August 31) at around 03h00, whilst the family was asleep.
Homeowner Fatima Patel of Jet Street, told the Laudium Sun, “My family and I were asleep when all of a sudden at around 03h00 in the morning (Wednesday, August 31), my eyes opened as our dogs were barking furiously. But I was so tired, I just looked at the time and instead of getting up, fell asleep again. In the morning when I awoke and went to the kitchen, all seemed fine. But, when I went to the laundry, I was surprised to find that our clothes which had been washed the previous day, were all missing. There were two buckets of laundry that were washed the day before. When we checked how these thieves got in, we realised that they broke the lock of the front gate and managed to open the side window of the laundry. They then stole the clothes through the window, by using a rod. I am still not sure what else has been stolen. The problem we as residents in the area are having, are these nyaopes who sleep in the park. During the night they make a fire in the park and sit around it, watching all the houses opposite on Jet Street. The other problem is the street lights that have not working for some time now, as the place is so dark at night and thus makes breaking into our homes much easier for the thieves. I know that the police and the Councillor read the Laudium Sun, so I appeal to them through your paper, to fix the lights and to take action against these people that are causing a problem for us. I have not reported the matter to the police as it is just a waste of time.”
Asma Bakhayia, also from Jet Street told the Laudium Sun, “The street lights need to be fixed immediately and police must patrol the area. The break-in at Fatima’s house happened because the thieves took advantage of the street lights not working.”
Sergeant Simon Chokoe, of the Laudium SAPS told the Laudium Sun, “We are not aware of this crime. I once more urge the community to report all crime. Crime can be defeated if the community works with the police.”
