Da Rocha, Pietersen and others worried about police station being overtaken by politicians

While the issue of policemen killed in the line of duty was discussed at a recent public meeting held by the Cleveland Community Police Forum (CCPF), secretary of the forum Jack van de Vorst requested members of the community, who were wearing political party regalia, especially ANC, to leave the meeting or take them off because the meeting was apolitical.

Also read: ANC comments on allegations after CCPF meeting

“While we were doing the introductions of the attendees I noticed between 10 to 12 people who were wearing ANC regalia. They introduced themselves as chairperson and secretary of the local ANC branch. This included our CPF deputy secretary who presented herself as the ANC vice-chair,” said van de Vorst.

He told EXPRESS he raised a point of order and requested the CCPF chairperson Godfrey Mothibe to instruct those wearing political party regalia to take them off.

“Mothibe refused my request even after I pointed out that the CPF is a non-political structure referring to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the guidelines of the Department of Community Safety. The station commander never said a word or attempted to execute his authority to protect his station from the ‘take-over’,” said van de Vorst.

Subsequently, community members Charlotte van Vuuren, Mike Spadino, John Wilkinson, Ward 118 Clr Neuren Pietersen and van de Vorst walked out of the meeting.

He said outside the group discussed whether the remaining people in effect still formed a quorum.

“The CPF reference manual states on page 27 point six that a quorum should consist of 50 per cent plus one of the ‘voting members’ and Mothibe was the only voting member left. Therefore the whole meeting should be adjourned,” said van de Vorst.

He told EXPRESS the group was requested to return to the meeting by the Department of Community Safety’s Thabo Thipe.

“His arguments didn’t convince us to do so. Thipe said the proceeding of the meeting was indeed against the rules but said he couldn’t do anything about it. Pietersen pointed out to him that because of the precedent the incident created he could take his entire DA contingent in full colours and his EFF friends to the next meeting and expect to be treated the same,” said van de Vorst.

Mothibe commented he did not adhere to the request from van de Vorst as “there was no threat from those who were wearing political party regalia”.

“I protected the community members in attendance by explaining the members are residents. We all reside in the Cleveland SAPS precinct. Wearing a political party regalia posed no danger to the CPF public meeting,” he said.

“Five assembled outside the venue of the meeting and held their own meeting. There is no law that says the chairperson can stop the public meeting when there is no threat. The residents had done nothing wrong to qualify the meeting to be stopped or postponed,” said Mothibe.

He agreed that the CPF is apolitical.

“There is no section in the policy that says political party regalia should not be worn by community members or others. The CPF has no authority over what community members wear at the meetings. My responsibility in the CPF public meetings is to manage the agenda sent to community members and exco members. My responsibility is to manage the chair as the name says. I only focus on the agenda. I hardly look at what attire or regalia is worn by attendees as that is not on my mandate,” Mothibe said.

“By staying in that meeting, I would have legitimised the political hijacking of the CPF which is meant to be apolitical. Police stations are meant to remain apolitical.

“The people who left cannot be described as DA. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only card-carrying member who left. The CPF is governed by a constitution that requires it to be apolitical. Residents, regardless of their affiliation, have every right to attend the meeting but we do it in a manner that is apolitical. The local ANC branch arrived in their regalia and introduced themselves as per their respective branch positions in the ANC, clearly making a political assertion. As the councillor of the ward, I do not wear my party skipper when I attend the CPF. A re Sebetseng does not have a constitution expressly forbidding it to be apolitical, unlike the CPF. Everyone is encouraged to participate and they may wear whatever they want to wear to clean up activities,” Pietersen said.

Since the meeting, Ward 66 Clr Carlos Da Rocha said he is also concerned about the event hosted at Cleveland Police Station by members of the ANC Raymond Mhlaba branch.

He said the station has turned out to be an “ANC circus”.

He told EXPRESS members of the public wearing political party regalia is not an issue to him.

“In my opinion crime affects everyone. People attend community forum meetings out of desperation over crime stats that are hurting our people. My concern is the political activities taking place at Cleveland Police Station. The station should remain apolitical. What is more upsetting is the CPF executives who get involved in political activities in the CPF,” he said.

“The CPF, especially the executive, must avoid promoting any political party in order for it to be more representative of the broader community. What is worrisome is it seems the police station is being used as a ‘campaigning point’,” said Da Rocha.

He referred to a May event when Ward 118 Raymond Mhlaba branch, in collaboration with a church, donated groceries, clothes and blankets to 51 Jumpas Informal Settlement families in need of assistance.

“On the day of the handover at the station, the police station had ANC flags all over. Political regalia was displayed all over at the handover. That clearly shows a full-on political rally within the grounds of a police station. By law, police stations have to remain apolitical and events like that disguised as a charity run should never have been allowed at the police station and should never have been hosted by the CPF, that above all else should remain apolitical. I am not saying people should not donate to those who are less fortunate. I support charity but it must be done in a good way and not at the local police station where there is a display of political party flags,” Da Rocha said.

Mothibe told EXPRESS he cannot comment on the matter any further.

“I have made a sworn statement to the SAPS Contact Service Centre.

“This matter is now in the hands of the courts of South Gauteng,” he said.

An inquiry was also sent to Ward 118 ANC Raymond Mhlaba branch secretary Sipho Mthembu, Cleveland SAPS former station commander Phetole Mahasha, Cleveland SAPS current station commander Lobisi Motoung and the Department of Community Safety’s Thabo Thipe.

A request for comment was sent on September 21 at 10am. Comment was requested by 8pm. No comment was received.

A second request for comment was sent on September 25 with a request for comment by September 26 at 3pm. At the time of going to print only comment from the Ward 118 ANC Raymond Mhlaba branch had been received.

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