AT a Special General Meeting (SGM) last week, Umbilo CPF elected a new chairperson, in the process ousting the previous incumbent. This move was met with mixed reactions from stakeholders and community structures.

During the SGM, Sicelo Sibiya was elevated to the hot seat. The previous chairperson, Calvin Thomas, is not going down without an appeal, as he cited “challenges to the validity and legality of the SGM”.
Umbilo CPF said the SGM was convened “after formal requests were submitted by Umbilo CPF Sub-Forums 1 and 3 calling for the removal of the previous chairperson”.

“The requests raised various concerns relating to his leadership and the working relationship between the CPF executive and its sub-forums. In accordance with the Umbilo CPF Constitution, the SGM provided members and recognised community stakeholders with an opportunity to consider the motion and elect a chairperson to serve for the remainder of the current executive committee’s term,” the forum said.

Reasons to call the SGM, and subsequent removal of Thomas as stated by the CPF include: consistent autocratic and unilateral decision-making, non-compliance with the CPF constitution and established governance procedures, abrupt, dismissive, and disruptive conduct in executive committee meetings, pattern of speaking down to or demeaning members of sub-forum 3, initiating operations within sectors without mandate or consultation, holding sector-level meetings with the station commander without sector knowledge or participation, sub-forum 1 being excluded from operations, and verbal attack of sector 1 chairperson.

Also read: Umbilo CPF ousts chairperson in special meeting

Meanwhile, Sibiya said he was humbled to have been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the Umbilo CPF as its chairperson.

“I look forward to engaging with the community, private security companies, community organisations and the police as we work together to improve safety across the Umbilo policing area,” he said.

eThekwini District SAPS spokesperson, Captain Carmen Rhynes, said, “The SAPS is aware of concerns that have been raised by certain stakeholders regarding the CPF chairperson election process. The SAPS remains committed to ensuring that CPF elections are conducted in accordance with the applicable policies and guidelines.”

Rhynes continued, “Should any stakeholder believe that the prescribed processes were not followed, there are established mechanisms through which such concerns may be formally raised and considered by the relevant authorities.”

She concluded that at this stage, it would be inappropriate for SAPS to further comment on the merits of the allegations before any formal process has been concluded.”

Also read: Umbilo CPF: No confidence vote ousts committee

Ward 33 councillor Fran Kristopher shared, “I have been contacted by various stakeholders, residents and business owners from the area querying the validation of the CPF. I am currently in the process of assisting them to direct their queries to the necessary authorities.”

Kristopher said she was only made aware of this SGM two days before the meeting. “I questioned the presiding officer on the short notification of said meeting, and I also queried the validation of the process.

“He responded that due notice was given by the secretary of the CPF and a link for registration was also sent out. I reiterated that only two days’ notice was provided to stakeholders; hence, the process was flawed, as 21 days’ notice should have been given to all stakeholders and not just a select few.”

Calvin Thomas responded
“The central issue is not whether certain individuals sought a change in leadership. Rather, the fundamental question is whether the process followed complied with the Constitution governing the Umbilo CPF. There was a failure to follow constitutional dispute resolution procedures.

“A significant concern relates to the handling of the matter by the Department of Community Safety and Liaison. The concerns raised by Sectors 1 and 3 should first have been addressed through the dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in Section 23 of the CPF Constitution before any SGM was convened.

“These concerns were never properly tested, investigated, or adjudicated through the prescribed constitutional processes.

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“Importantly, at no stage was I found guilty of any breach of the Constitution or the Code of Conduct that would justify disciplinary action or removal from office. The absence of any formal finding of misconduct raises serious questions regarding the legal and constitutional basis upon which the SGM was convened and the subsequent actions taken.

“Further concerns arise from the manner in which the Special General Meeting was organised and administered. The Electoral Officer, Mandla Cebekhulu, who serves as chairperson of the Point CPF, was appointed on the day of the meeting itself. He had no involvement in the preceding process and therefore had limited opportunity to independently verify constitutional compliance or procedural fairness prior to the commencement of the meeting.

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“There are also concerns that information regarding the meeting was selectively distributed to certain stakeholders while others were either excluded or notified at extremely short notice. This became evident through disputes surrounding the voter registration process and the final voters’ roll.

“Of the approximately 20 registered security companies operating within the Umbilo policing precinct, only one was permitted to register and participate in the voting process. This raises important questions regarding fairness, representation, and consistency in the application of stakeholder participation requirements.

“Moreover, significant stakeholders and other community organisations were reportedly made aware of the meeting only two days before it took place. This is particularly concerning given that the CPF constitution requires stakeholders to be informed of such meetings at least 21 days in advance.

Also read: Umbilo CPF investigates PPE ‘wastage’

“Additional concerns relate to the voter registration process itself. The registration documentation contained conflicting closing dates, creating uncertainty regarding the submission requirements. Furthermore, registrants were required to provide their identity numbers without any accompanying explanation regarding the collection, processing, storage, retention, or disposal of personal information.

“The form itself was further updated and changed to exclude a stakeholder. No reference was made to compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), nor were participants informed how their personal information would be safeguarded. These omissions raise legitimate concerns regarding privacy compliance and data governance.”

*Part 2 in next week’s edition.

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