MINUTES OF THE 5th WELRIDGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT WELTEVREDEN PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL,
SATURDAY 21st APRIL 2007 AT 09h00
The meeting started at 09h10.
1. Chairman's welcome and introduction of guests
1.1 Volker Hoffmeister welcomed all residents present (also refer to attendance register),
1.2 and introduced invited guests:
Ms. Dee White (formerly Middlemas), Councillor for Ward 89, and Mr. John Baisley, Chairman, Honeydew Community Police Forum.
2. Chairman's introduction of the Welridge Residents Association Committee Members :
Mr. Norman Dent - Vice Chairman and Green Belt Co-ordinator,
Ms. Muffy Hochfelden - Secretary and Green Belt Co-ordinator,
Ms. Pauline Hoffmeister - PRO W.R.A.
Mr. R. Lemmer - Security
Mr. F. Botha - Editor
Ms. S. Brown - Webmaster
Ms. E. Williams - Co-Opted Member: Membership Maintenance
2.1 Apologies were accepted from Ms. Siobhan Brown and ‘Spike’ Lemmer
2.2 With all the important developments around the W.R.A. Vehicle scheme taking place the passing of the WRA 10th Anniversary on the 18.03.1997 had been overlooked.
Ms. Siobhan Brown and Ms. Rose Clark had organized the inaugural meeting under the auspices of the Honeydew Community Police Forum (CPF). Congratulations were extended to Committee Members making themselves available during that meeting and still being on the Committee (Francois Botha and Siobhan Brown), as well as all members, each having served on the WRA Committee for many years.
3. Chairman's explanation for calling this meeting on short notice.
i. A final meeting with Honeydew Police Station Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner O. Reddy and his Director for Visible Policing and Crime Prevention, Director A. Nengovhela took place on the 27.03.2007, and concerned the fate of the Vehicle Scheme that we introduced on the 1-11-2000 which was allowed to run until the 1.03.2007, known as Plan "A".
ii. The Station Command suggested an amended Plan - which has to be decided upon during this meeting. If such Amended Plan were not acceptable, then this meeting should decide on an alternative that your Committee in conjunction with the Chairmen of RiverWel R.A. and Randpark Ridge Village Association (RRVA) have decided to support, i.e. one proposal from a number of private security companies, namely DCS Armed Response Guarding (whereby DCS stands for - Dedicated Community Service).
iii. Either Plan had to be decided upon before the next WRA Membership Debit Order Run (for the month of May, 2007), which had to be activated latest on the 24.04.2007.
As Volker had only returned from holidays on evening of 19.04.2007, the window for the meeting was between Friday evening, the 20.04.2007 and Monday evening, 23.04.2007
hence our decision to meet on Saturday morning, 21.04.2007.
3.1 The Constitution of your Welridge Residents Association states that 10% of the Membership of 790 shall constitute a quorum for any General Meeting:
The attendance register reveals the presence of 65 residents with 34 written proxies on hand, thus there was a quorum.
4. Chairman's report on the vehicle scheme.
4.1 Short explanation of modus operandi from 1.11.2000 until 1.03.2007, or for duration of 7 years and 4 months:
i. Initially, the Honeydew CPF employed people and paid people to staff patrol vehicles provided by the community and the Operations Room at the Station. All these staff members have had to be Police Reservists as well, and when reporting for duty fell under the command (and medical protection) of the Station Commander, thus became full Police Officers.
ii. When it became clear that no CPF is allowed to employ people, a Public Company, registered under Section 21 (Non-Profit Organisation) was registered, i.e. HONEYDEW PRECINCT, Reg. No. 2001/019698/08, with financial statements being available from the first year of operation ¡V
12 months ended 2003 as audited annually by WAKELY-SMITH DANTE SINCLAIR, Chartered Accountants (SA), 2nd floor, Edinburgh Gate, Hyde Lane, Hyde Park, 2196.
HONEYDEW PRECINCT has the same goals as the CPF, and up to now has been running as the umbrella organization of the Honeydew CPF Vehicle Scheme. New contracts of employment were drawn up for all ex-employees of the CPF
who henceforth became employees of the HONEYDEW PRECINCT.
iii. On the 11.08.2006, HONEYDEW PRECINCT entered into an Agreement with the National Deputy Commissioner, H.M. Hlela which regulated the USE of vehicles to be donated in future. This agreement did neither address the manning of such vehicles nor the area in which these vehicles are going to be employed, save and except to refer to the Honeydew Police Station area of control. Up to then there was an UNDERSTANDING with S.A.P.S. Area Command and the Honeydew Police Station Management, that the area of Residents Association/s that donate vehicle/s, will be declared a SECTOR (in terms of S.A.P.S. National Policy of Sector Policing), and only the employees of HONEYDEW PRECINCT were allowed to drive and man the vehicles, this for insurance reasons (one has to have an insurable interest in an insured item, in this case, the vehicle).
iv. In summary -
a. the use of a donated vehicle will only be in the area of an R.A. that donated in the first place, and
b. a Police Reservist must have, inter alia, a fixed employment, something that HONEYDEW PRECINCT made available,
c. notably, there is no stipulation as to what that person is being employed for, as long as he / she is not in the employ of a private security company,
d. Honeydew Precinct employed its people as SECURITY
CONSULTANT, which eventually became a bone of contention with the new Honeydew Station Command.
4.2 De facto stoppage of Vehicle Scheme, Plan per 01.03.2007
With the S.A.P.S. Area Command having been dissolved, it is understandable that a new Station Commander asks for guidance from his superior/s, in this case, Station Commissioner O. Reddy passed on a report compiled by his Director for Visible Policing and Crime Prevention (also new at Honeydew, but part of the same S.A.P.S. Area Command in Krugersdorp, now dissolved) to the Legal Department of S.A.P.S GAUTENG, Johannesburg. Assistant Commissioner O. Reddy also passed on to that same department the WRA Chairman objections to the Director's report, a report that is highly contentious to say the least. This matter was not only referred to the Legal Department of S.A.P.S Gauteng, but also to the Provincial Commissioner, P. Naidoo, and to date we have not received a directive or reply to our representations which Assistant Commissioner O. Reddy initially invited us to make to the former department.
Whilst it is the Honeydew Station Commissioner's prerogative to accept or reject a gift, it is unacceptable that we as volunteers who, inter alia, help curb crime (which we like to think that we have achieved over a sustained period of 7 years and 4 months) are treated more like criminals with ulterior motives including personal enrichment.
Furthermore, we object to the fact that whilst we followed etiquette and common courtesy, tactics were applied that physically stopped the vehicle scheme, and that before we were officially notified of the decision by S.A.P.S. Province or Honeydew.
4.3 Explanation from S.A.P.S. Member of the Honeydew Police Station Management Team:-
An invitation had been e-mailed to the Station Command on the 17.04.2007. As both, Commissioner O. Reddy and Director A. Nengovhela were on holiday during the
month of April, 2007, a reply was received from the Acting Station Commissioner, Director RM Palko on 19.04.2007 in which this officer explained her not being aware of the motives or reasons for the cancellation of the project. Director's Palko's explanation was accepted.
5. Chairman's presentation of Vehicle Scheme Alternatives
5.1 Revised Plan as proposed by Station Commissioner O. Reddy on the 27.03.2007
a. The WRA / RiverWel Partnership Vehicle can only be employed in the new SECTOR which has been drawn up according to the political borders of Ward 89, i.e. from corner Beyers Naude and Christiaan de Wet in the East right up to Konstantia Kloof in the West, and
b. only true Police Reservists ( those that are not employed by Honeydew Precinct ) may drive and man the vehicles, the use of which has / will be donated.
Question from the floor
Resident of WRA and Ward Councillor for Ward 97, Mr. M. Tonkin: Proposed to interrogate Commissioner Reddy's proposal with a view of increasing income from a larger area.
Answer from Ward Councillor, Ms. D. White
There are now 2 sectors in the WRA/RiverWel area, i.e Section 2 Randburg, and Section 3 Roodepoort. Would residents of the existing WRA / RiverWel partnership be prepared to serve a much larger area with the prospect and hard labour to one day reap the benefit of a higher income ?
At this point Councillor M. Tonkin added: Police has to be told that residents are in charge, and that the Police must start to deliver. He offered to set up appointments with politicians at higher levels, and that the Vehicle Scheme as known to operate successfully, must not be allowed to "die".
Answer from the chair:
The residents have paid one month subscription as an investment during March, 2007, without receiving the service of a patrol and reaction, thus allowing us (RRVA, WRA/RiverWel Parnership now called "The Alliance")
to solve a problem. All participating residents have been without protection for one month already, and the powers to be at S.A.P.S will take their time to possibly be swayed to accept the old modus operandi, time that we do not have. Instead, we need to come up with an alternative right now ( which does not mean that we give up ).
Question from the floor:
The public has always been asked to play an active role in community policing, and now we are told that our successful project cannot continue. Does this mean that we as the public can take this complaint to the news media?
Answer from chair:
We as the Committee can not tell people / residents what to do, however, it must be remembered that the WRA is affiliated to the Honeydew CPF which is a partner to the S.A.P.S to fight crime. WRA can not and will not "fight" our ultimate partner in public.
Statement from the floor - Andre van Rensburg:
WRA must not accept the opinion of one man. We must fight for our vehicle. - Name not confirmed.
Our crime has escalated in one month from a safe area to a high crime area. Should we sit back and accept?
5.1.1 Voting on Revised Plan as proposed by Commissioner O. Reddy: Rejected by all present.
5.2 Alternative Plan Proposal by DCS Armed Response Guarding
Interim Arrangement made for the month of April, 2007 only -5.04. -30.04.2007:
WRA/RiverWel vehicle is re-marked with DCS markings,
has patrolled RRVA and WRA / RiverWel areas on 24/7-basis,
two DCS armed personnel manned the vehicle, both areas shared DCS total cost of manning and running vehicle, including insurance, DCS added one of their vehicle from mid-April, 2007 to the service, at no extra cost
DCS Proposal for discussion and decision:
« An initial agreement covering 6 months, starting 01.05.2007, thereafter renewable in agreed intervals.
« WRA Members having participated in the vehicle scheme at a rate of R200. p.m. carry on to be part of the WRA vehicle Scheme Plan (participation with DCS is only via WRA membership), and at the same rate.
« Change-over from third party alarm systems to DCS radio control is free-of-charge, monitoring, however, must be arranged via WRA/RiverWel with DCS at a rate of R140.-- , payment of which has to be made directly to DCS.
« New Alarm Systems will be offered if required V details dependant on individual needs.
« The Police Reservists will be offered employment in accordance with their own criteria.
« The patrol vehicle will be manned by two armed members of DCS, and will pro-actively patrol our WRA/RiverWel areas on a 24/7-basis.
6. Presentation by DCS Management: Presentation read by the Chairman, copy available on request.
Questions from the floor - Samantha Stainthorpe many other people have other security companies? If we go Plan ‘B’ what cost to residents to change over to DCS?
Her maid has been stopped and questioned about the activities of the household. This is very disturbing.
Answer from the chair: It is in the WRA members’ interest to be contracted ( via WRA) to DCS, this makes commercial sense.
Note: Matter of maid having been stopped, has been dealt with subsequently.
- Stewart Evans Where will shift changes take place? –can this be done within the area?
Answer from the chair: Correction: Due to firearms hand-over, it can only be done at the control room in Florida, however, this will be done with the least delay and under supervision.
- Andrew Craig What liability does WRA have in the event of incidents whereby the patrol will be injured, and what powers do DCS have to stop and search – same powers as before?
Answer from the chair: DCS has their own insurance, and WRA is contracting the service of DCS, not its liability.
DCS patrol do not have the same power, but are guided and supervised by experienced ex-policemen.
- Denzel Bricknell Whilst continuing to strive for YF14, can we only sign up for 3 months?
Answer from the chair: It would take much longer to convince government organizations to change their minds, and in any event, the offered initial contract period is 6 months for WRA – under WRA practice, however, individual households are “bound” by 30 day notice period.
- John Watters Is the cell phone still available to existing participating residents?
Answer from the chair: Yes, but the number will be changed in time.
- Lynn Schelin Will the same monthly payments be applicable to all households, or will some households still only be paying R50.-?
Answer from the chair: The only concessions made are those to pensioners, otherwise the monthly subscription rate remains at R200.—p.m. There is an additional subscription for the up-keep of the green belt, which is R25,-- p.m.
- Rosemary Tonkin What happens to the existing car?
Answer from the chair: The car will eventually be sold, proceeds to become a cash asset.
- Name not confirmed The yellow signboards, will they be withdrawn and new boards be put up?
Answer from the chair: All the existing signboards have to be removed and destroyed. New boards will be designed.
Statement from the floor – John Baisley Some people may question whether a private security vehicle will have the same benefit as the ( previous ) dedicated vehicle for this area. That success was through the WRA management. We need to have all our eggs in one basket, and we all need pull together for this new scheme to also be a success. I strongly urge everyone to go with the security company – this will ensure visible policing which is always successful. The security company can stop and question and this will get the word around very quickly. Honeydew is one of the worst crime areas and the police cannot help at this stage.
7. Voting by show of hands: Replacement Vehicle Scheme Plan ‘B’ 100% in agreement to adopt Plan ‘B’.
8. Chairman’s presentation with assistance from the Treasurer: Audited Financial Statements
Explained audited financial statements for two years, i.e. February 2006 and 2007 - copies will be displayed on WRA Website www.honeydewcpf.org.za
9. & 10 Chairman’s report on Greenbelt Clean-up and Domestic Watch:
During the last General Meeting last year time most spent was on the state of the green belt. At that stage one could lose a whole army in the long grass, and the Jukskei tribute was full of rubble and was in a filthy state.
This was cleared up by spending R126.000.—during the last 12 months.
The efforts for a workable Domestic Watch needs to be continued. The chairlady for that committee is now living in Australia.
Question from the floor - Ron Burt What improvements were made to the green belt?
Answer from the Green Belt Co-Ordinators: It is the job of the City Parks Board to clean up our green belt and to cut the long grass. This had not been done. A contractor had to be employed to manage the clean-up in an ongoing manner. We pay monthly and initially deducted the cost of equipment that WRA had to bridge-finance.
Statement from the floor - Ms. D. White – Councillor for Ward 89 Parks are responsible but have huge areas to serve. Due to the size of the city public participation is essential. Dee appreciates the efforts of WRA and RiverWel and encourages residents to log complaints if grass is not cut.
11. Adoption of S.A.R.S. requirements into WRA constitution
Adoption of certain requirements in terms of Income Tax Exemption were tabled and adopted.
12. Resignation of WRA Committee Members, and election of new members
All Committee Members introduced at the outset resigned, but were re-elected with a 100% vote. There were no persons making themselves available to serve as a committee member.
Statement from the floor - John Baisley
John thanked all committee members for their hard work. As Chairman of the CPF he knows the difference between a well-run RA and a not-so well-run R.A.
- Dee White Appreciates being able to work with WRA and RiverWel for the next 4 years.
- Ronald Burns Suggests an Open Day for the new security company to introduce themselves and to obtain support from the residents.
13. Closure The General Meeting closed at 11.00hrs.
M. Hochfelden / F. Botha / V. Hoffmeister
29.04.2007
