The Richmond Hill Community has been the the most pro-active and effective local community to apply community policing measures – so effective were they in fact that their methods came under increasing scrutiny eventually leading to a knee jerk reaction from ‘the powers that want to be’ and the subsequent suspending of members, rescinding of privileges and bringing of criminal charges against the prime architects responsible for keeping the crime levels down along with fraud charges against others.
That wrong was done on both sides is a given. Moral and ethical issues abound here though and I, personally, question the heavy handed tactics employed by ‘the powers that want to be’ – a better way of handling the situation could have been employed which would have preserved the sense of well being in this unique community.
After much huffing and puffing, blowing of trumpets, drive by pillow fights and deafening silence from some quarters (Sounds like our government of the day despite their oft used words; “We are a caring government”) it appears that some sense has prevailed with the SAPS, CPF and RHSCF (confused?) finally making kissing noises after the great indaba of 12 December.
Read on and make your own judgement of the Minutes of that fateful day:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING WITH THE RICHMOND HILL COMMUNITY CHAIRED BY GENERAL RABIE ON THE 12th DECEMBER 2012.
In attendance: Gen D Rabie, Z Mafani, Max Hoppe, Chris Parkin, Albert Schultz, Amanda Wellman, Robert Brewers, Rick & Flick Galpin, Keith & Margie Miller, Vasco Hugo, P. Brunner, Atkinson, P Bricknell, D Mardon, Rowena van Eyk, Andre Du Preez, Judy Clarke, Sarah Osmond, Ed Richardson, Frances Richardson, Dave Pearson, Paula Bulbring, Ian Taylor, Lize Marais, Robin Dunstan, Sylvia Dunstan, Arnold Olbe, Claudia Powell, Alice Connacher, Cynthia Lewis, Rory Norton, Christell Nicholls, Robin Payne, Mike du Preez, Sue Hoppe, Karl Wellman, R. Koll, D. Moorhouse, JM Preller, Mike McCormack, L. Beets, Col. Groenewald, Col. Roach, M. Berrington, Babra Kambaneva
General Rabie opened the meeting and stated that his objective was to reach solutions to all the points raised previously by the Community of Richmond Hill. He asked for points for discussion to be tabled up front.
Eight items were identified:
- The status of the Richmond Hill Community Bakkie and the related charges against five members of the Richmond Hill Community.
- The people who brought these charges should explain their actions to the Community of Richmond Hill.
- What is the status of the Richmond Hill Sector Crime Forum (RHSCF ) with the CPF?
- What is Mr John Preller’s ‘agenda’ and what are his objectives by taking the actions that he has done, and what does he want to achieve?
- Why is it forbidden for the Central SCF to pass information onto the RHSCF?
- What is the Plan going forward?
- What are the Police doing about the crime wave in the suburb?
- A complaint was made about the open selling of drugs at the bottom of Elliot Street and why there was no follow up with the resident concerned despite many requests both verbally and in writing to do so?
Issue 1, 2 and 4 – The Richmond Hill Bakkie & the Fraud Charges
General Rabie asked if someone could explain about the Bakkie issue which Max Hoppe did on behalf of the Community. Key points were that the Community thought it wise to purchase its own bakkie as a safety net in the event of the I – Patrol vehicle not being provided by Williams Hunt. Money for its purchase was never part of the operating account for the RHSCF; money in this specific bakkie account was transferred to the Richmond Hill Residents Association (RHRA), (no money was taken from the RHSCF). All residents who had donated money to the bakkie fund were asked to sanction the transfer of the money (which they did). Further funds were raised through the RHRA and then the bakkie was purchased and registered in the name of the Non Profit Company of the RHRA as soon as this Company was established.
General Rabie then asked John Preller to explain his actions. He indicated that he understood that Sector Crime Money had been taken out by Alan Mounter (who was suspended), and furthermore, he thought that the whole RHSCF had been dissolved. From his perspective if there was no RHSCF then the CPF rules indicated that any funds held by that SCF had to be put under the guardianship of the CPF which would return the money once a new SCF was established. The decision to prosecute the five members of the RHSCF was taken by him as the Chairman of the CPF as a “principle issue”.
General Rabie then asked the question of whether the Richmond Hill Sector Crime Forum has a functioning Executive Committee. Karl Wellman answered on behalf of the Community detailing how the Community maintained its executive committee throughout and adjusted members as committee members left the area in accordance with our Constitution. How his wife who is the Vice Chairman runs effective neighbourhood watch patrols etc.
The Community pressed Mr Preller on the issue of bringing a fraud case against five members of Richmond Hill on “a matter of principle”. Mr Robin Payne from the floor asked, “let us cut to the chase here, peoples time is being wasted on a ‘principle’. Is Mr Preller prepared to withdraw the charges”? Brigadier Koll stepped in at this point and indicated that the Public Prosecutor (PP) is going to call a mediation meeting and that there were errors on both sides. He admitted that the money that was collected in the ‘bakkie fund’ which fell under the SCF was a ‘technicality” in his words and he stated that in his view “there was no fraud case per se”. Chris Parkin asked why are we spending all this time on a “‘technicality’ when we should be working together to fight crime?” There were general questions from the floor that this was a crazy position to go to all these lengths of threatening prosecution when it has been admitted that there is no fraud and the issue has boiled down to a technicality. It was also asked “did anybody lose anything”. The answer is ‘no’ so how can a fraud have been committed. It was also acknowledged that there was no criminal intent so no one can be guilty. The repeated question from the floor was therefore “are you prepared to withdraw the charges and now move ahead”.
Mr Zuko Mafani stepped in and stated; “I want to get to the end of this, we need to confirm that we are going to the meeting with the PP to withdraw the charges”. Furthermore, if the CPF has suspended the RHSCF the Executive Committee then there must be minutes of that meeting when the Committee was addressed and suspended?
Equally, he asked that if the transfer of the bakkie was done correctly then minutes of that decision should be produced. There were no minutes of the former issue, but minutes were produced by Max Hoppe detailing the Community’s authorisation on the bakkie funds transfer. Max Hoppe stated that at the moment that there was no mediation meeting with the PP because she was not prepared to talk to us on ethical grounds unless we had legal counsel present. Max Hoppe explained that we were prepared to do that but as the cost was a minimum Rand 1,500 it was a waste of money to argue something that had boiled down to a matter of ‘principle’ and a ‘technicality’ and that money could be better put towards fighting crime in the Suburb. Max Hoppe then requested that really the sensible approach was to withdraw the whole thing from the PP.
Mr John Preller stated that he had told the PP that he would like to mediate the issue but his problem was to find a mediator. He told the meeting that the PP was offering mediation and he was keen to “get rid of the matter’. Again he was pressed from the floor on whether the CPF was going to withdraw the charges. He explained that it was not subject to him but his Board. He was then asked by Max Hoppe whether he would make a recommendation to withdraw the charges to which Mr Preller replied that he “cannot do that because I would be leading the Board”. General Rabie stressed the urgency to convene a meeting with the PP and he stated he would give it his personal attention to ensure that the PP deals with it in the fastest possible manner.
Issue 3 – The Status of the Richmond Hill Sector Crime Forum
General Rabie asked Sue Hoppe to explain her point which was that it would appear that the CPF considers that the Richmond Hill Community does not exist. There has been no communication with the leader of the CPF since the 6th June, and the efforts to dissolve the RHSCF and marginalize the Community through a CPF promoted non representative body called the ‘Richmond Hill Initiative’ leads to the conclusion that all this is an attempt “to get our money” that was donated to fight crime in the Suburb. General Rabie asked both Brigadier Koll and Mr Preller directly “do you recognize the RHSCF “? Brigadier Koll says he believed that the four original committee members had been suspended and that he asked the Community to appoint a further four members and that he has not received the communication that it had been done. Max Hoppe then referred to the email communication that had been sent to Brigadier Koll detailing the addition four Executive Committee members that was done at his request. General Rabie then summed up the position. There is no dispute about the suspension of Alan Mounter but if there is no correct notification to the other members of the Committee that they have been suspended then clearly they have not been suspended and therefore the RHSCF exists.
His exact noted words were “if they were suspended why did they not get letters”? Brigadier Koll replied that the CPF was supposed to draft the letters. There was then a private discussion between the Brigadier and Mr Preller after which the Brigadier told the meeting that “we accept the executive structure of the RHSCF”. Andre Du Preez asked from the floor “If these two gentlemen made an immediate decision to recognize the RHSCF why can’t they make an immediate decision to withdraw the charges?” John Preller made the statement “we are looking at withdrawing the charges”. General Rabie ended this session to move onto the next point stating “your Forum is back”.
Issue 7 – The Crime Wave
The Richmond Hill crime statistics were presented with housebreaking and theft out of cars being two features. A general discussion followed with General Rabie asking who were our Sector Managers (Colonel Benjamin and Captain Ackermann). General Rabie was told that they were forbidden to attend our RHSCF and he then told the Community that in future ” they will attend your meeting”. John Preller stated he would “like to repair the broken relationship with the Community” and with the CPF support he would like us to fight crime together.
Issue 8 – Drug Dealing on Elliot Street
The issue was debated and Mr Preller suggested that “Mr Vasco should work with the Crime Forum ” and when Mr Vasco said he was unsure whether anything would happen Mr Preller said “it is about to change now”. General Rabie stated he wanted a “partnership with the Community, report the crimes and we will work on it”.
Issue 6 – The Plan Going Forward
Chris Parkin summarized the meetings conclusions which were :
- General Rabie gave his personal commitment to ensure the PP is appraised of the situation and can make a decision to remove the charges.
- There is no objection to this action by Brigadier Koll and John Preller.
- The RHSCF is accepted and recognised by both the SAPS and the CPF as the Sector Crime Forum representing the Richmond Hill community.
Alan Straton
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The introductory paragraph above is exactly how this debacle was handled by “His Masters Voice” – well done Alan!
Now we are still waiting for a couple of loose ends to be tied.
1. When will Brig Koll release the findings of the much publicised forensic investigation into the finances of the RHSCF
2. When will the SAPS resume their nighttime patrols in Richmond Hill?
3. When will the very flawed CPF constitution be reviewed and amended to include representation on the Exec. from Richmond Hill?
4. When will the Herald report extensively and unbiased on the latest developments?
5. From personal experience I found that the crime stats are manipulated to reflect a winning picture of the crime situation – will the good Genl. Rabie initiate an investigation?
6. When will the Security Industry Regulator release their findings on Alan Mounter’s stipend? His Masters Voice should be able to assist in this regard for a quick conclusion.
Thank you for the kind words.
A suggestion – submit images of suspected miscreant activity with date and time to MyPE for publication. We will ensure that faces are unrecognisable or, preferably, you may do so when sending the images.
Note: We need to guard against falsely accusing someone of criminal activity. Unlike when it comes to activities such as illegal parking which is easy even for an idiot such as I to spot and record.
I’ll never make allegations without proof.