Editor –
Regarding the article ‘Home needs new blood’, published last week, my response to Mrs Lane is: At the beginning of 2018, I was asked by some friends of Shepstone Place if I was prepared to serve as chairperson.
READ THIS: Call for a ‘clean sweep’ at Shepstone Place
It was explained to me that Mrs Lane would retire at the end of 2018 in order to spend more time with her husband, who was seriously ill at the time. The position was purely voluntary and involved no remuneration. I agreed.
As a result of this invitation, I started spending time at the home, serving on the committee and together with Mrs Lane, learning the different procedures. It soon became apparent to me that the work of the committee was purely superficial.
When I asked to see the accounts, for example, my request was immediately denied. I was given no explanation. As for annual general meetings, in the more than two and a half years I have lived in Estcourt, audited accounts have not once been presented.
I am not accusing Mrs Lane of financial impropriety directly, but as for her excuse, “I did not know anything”, I find this very hard to accept. It is precisely the job of the chairperson to “know everything”.
Mrs Lane spent hours every day in the office, together with Mrs Potgieter. How she could not know what was allegedly happening before her very eyes is clear evidence that Mrs Lane was not doing her job.
As for the committee denying me the voluntary position as chairman, this is not the explanation I was given.
Mrs Lane’s husband regrettably passed away in 2018 and Mrs Lane unilaterally decided to continue as chairperson.
I was not officially informed of this and when I was told by some of the residents that Mrs Lane had decided to continue, I asked her for an explanation.
This is the WhatsApp message I sent her and the reply I received.
Me: “Dear Sheryl, when you invited me to join the committee, it was with the understanding that you would be resigning. I have just been informed that you have withdrawn your resignation.”
Mrs Lane: “I will be discussing this at the meeting and I don’t feel I owe you or anyone an explanation.”
As far as I know, that meeting never took place, or if it did, I wasn’t invited. Furthermore, this heavy-handed attitude is typical of the way people have been treated at the home.
I am calling on Mrs Lane to resign. Not because I believe she was directly involved in the alleged embezzlement, but because she has not been doing her due diligence.
She also needs to resign in order to restore confidence in the leadership of Shepstone Place. I very much doubt if donors will continue to support the home if they are not confident that their donations are being administered responsibly.
Ian Armstrong
A copy of this letter has been forwarded to Sheryl Lane, who declined to respond.
READ THE INITIAL STORY HERE: Former Shepstone Place administrator accused of fraud
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
