Many disgruntled local residents have approached the Laudium Sun, complaining that Laudium is severely neglected by the council, with the streets and parks beginning to look like a slum.
Fallen road signs, unkempt parks, lopsided streetlights and the neglected reservoir area, are just a few issues raised by the aggrieved community members. The irate residents complained that damaged road signs seem to be becoming a norm, causing irritation and more seriously a safety hazard to motorists. Despite this, traffic authorities are turning a blind eye and are more focused on collecting bribes from motorists who fail to wear seatbelts.
Driving through the streets of Laudium, motorists cannot ignore the many unsightly illegal dumping locations, as well as the damaged road signs. Some of the eyesores the Laudium Sun team spotted included, a fallen street sign and dumping on the corner of 3rd Avenue; a destroyed speed bump sign on Umber Street; a missing street sign and bent stop sign on the corner of 19th Avenue and Emerald Street. A destroyed streetlight pole on Military Road and a fallen stop sign on the corner of 40th Avenue and Agra Street East, were some other irritating issues forming an itinerary that is leaving locals up in arms.
A frustrated Emerald Street housewife, who pleaded for anonymity, said that she was just tired of appealing and complaining to the council as no action has been taken to remedy the situation. The 55-year old mother lamented: "We complain and complain yet nothing gets done in Laudium. The fallen street sign on the corner of Emerald Street and 19th Avenue has been like this for too long now. The road sign is missing at such a busy intersection in Laudium, yet the local council does nothing about it."
Another resident, Lincoln Mills (49) of Bengal Street, Laudium, said: "We thought that by voting for the DA, the state of Laudium's streets would be improved. But, it hasn't. I think it's actually gotten much worse. These greedy politicians are just all talk and no action. It's so frustrating, especially as our complaints keep falling on deaf ears."
Ghastly Reservoir
Another area of much concern, the residents said, is the neglected reservoir area, just behind Taj Street, Laudium, where many irresponsible local residents dump their rubbish and "get up to mischief" in the late of the night.
When the Laudium Sun team reached the reservoir entrance, we found the gates left wide open and upon driving along the roadway, over the wild grass, the team came upon heaps of empty alcohol bottles and other rubbish strewn across the site. An uncovered electrical box with exposed wiring was also found, which poses grave danger to curious young minds potentially lurking around the reservoir.
Angry Taj Street resident, Razeena Mohammed (48), said: "It's really dangerous that these gates are always left open. The youngsters get up to mischief around there and often criminals even use the reservoir area as an escape route, fleeing into Atteridgeville."
When the Laudium Sun approached Councillor Mahomed Essop for comment he said he was disappointed that residents were not getting the required feedback from the council for the complaints lodged. "It is essential that residents demand a reference number when lodging a complaint so that the matter can be taken further.”
*Residents are reminded to report complaints on (012) 358 9999 or contact the Laudium Customer Care Centre in the Civic Centre (6th Avenue, Laudium). Insist on a reference number.
For months a damaged speed bump sign remains unattended to on Umber Street, Laudium.
A fallen street name sign on the corner of 3rd Avenue, Laudium, lays alongside illegal dumping.
A stop sign remains fallen and bent for months, on the corner of 40th Avenue and Agra Street East, Laudium.
Lincoln Mills (49), of Bengal Street, Laudium, said residents thought that by voting for the DA, the state of Laudium's streets would improve, but it's actually gotten much worse.
A missing street sign and bent stop sign on the corner of 19th Avenue and Emerald Street, Laudium.
The electrical box with exposed live wires, near the reservoir, posing great danger to curious minds.