Gibson questions CPF meeting
'This was neither the time nor the place for such an attack and Mrs McKenzie should have, in my humble opinion, used other means of taking the DA to task, if this was her intention, than to misuse her standing as CPF Chairperson to do so in a meeting such as this.'
EDITOR – I am writing this letter to you because I was somewhat dismayed by the events which took place at this meeting.
The Chairperson, Linda McKenzie, opened the meeting and then, apparently due to having a sore throat, asked her husband, to read her Chairperson’s report.
In the Chairperson’s report, Mrs McKenzie found fit to use this forum to attack the Democratic Alliance (DA).
I took it as slander although after the meeting, Mrs McKenzie stated that she did not believe it was slander but be that as it may, it was so bad that Councillor William Rundle stood up and excused himself from the meeting.
A sad day for Edenvale when the CPF does not stick to its mandate but enters in politicising the Community Policing Forum meeting.
This was neither the time nor the place for such an attack and Mrs McKenzie should have, in my humble opinion, used other means of taking the DA to task, if this was her intention, than to misuse her standing as CPF Chairperson to do so in a meeting such as this.
I nearly walked out shortly after Councillor Rundle, such was my disgust but remained because I had some questions I wanted to ask.
Later on in the meeting, and after attendees had raised that the politics should not be mixed up with community police forums, Mrs McKenzie addressed Graham Gersbach and offered to have coffee with him so that they could chat about the CPF/DA.
This, in my opinion, was a farce. Why open the door to controversy by putting this in your Chairperson’s report in the first place?
During the evening, Mrs McKenzie made reference to comments on social media and even stated that someone was placing comments on social media during the meeting.
I raised my hand to respond to this as I had in fact placed not one, but two messages on social media during the meeting.
Mrs McKenzie saw my hand but blatantly ignored me.
Thereafter she took a question from the floor and informed everyone that this would be the last question.
She did not give me the opportunity of stating that she was criticizing me for being on social media, yet she had, in the same meeting, responded to my post on social media.
I have subsequently read the Community Policing Forum Reference Manual Gauteng Province issued by the Department of Community Safety and would like to suggest that Mrs McKenzie familiarise herself with the contents therein.
The specific guidelines as laid down in the White Paper on Safety and Security which indicate that the CPF should:
- Identify flash points, crime patterns and community anti-crime priorities
- Jointly set crime prevention priorities and strategies
- Assist with the development of targeted social crime prevention programmes
- Mobilise and organise community-based campaigns and activities
- Ensure that the locally elected representatives attend CPF’s
The Community Policing Forum Reference Manual Gauteng Province also refers to the fact that CPF should not entertain political discussions and that their focus should be on crime.
The Reference Manual also speaks to the functions of the Chairperson and states that the Chairperson should ensure all points of view are heard and should stay neutral and not take sides”.
I raise this last point in reference to the fact that despite having my hand in the air, to address the Chairperson, it was blatantly ignored.
At the end of the meeting, I did address Linda McKenzie and mentioned a) my disgust at the manner in which the DA was slated b) the fact that she blatantly ignored my hand and c) that I wish the CPF and DA could work together for the betterment of the Edenvale Community.
Mrs McKenzie’s response to me was “if you don’t like it Di, you don’t need to come back”. I would like to refer Mrs McKenzie to page 23 of the Community Policing Forum Reference Manual Gauteng Province which states “7.
All members of the community should feel that they belong to the CPF and the CPF members should encourage them to talk to them, join the meetings and tell them if the CPF is doing its work properly.”
Given the above-mentioned events of Thursday night’s CPF meeting, it is clear to me, that in many respects, Mrs McKenzie has over-stepped her mandate in terms of her position as CPF Chairperson and I call for her to be removed from this position. I will be forwarding a copy of my letter to the Provincial Commissioner as well.
DIANNE GIBSON, ELMA PARK.
(Unedited at the writer’s request)
Letter received on August 1.
COMMENT – Chairperson for the Edenvale Community Police Forum, Mrs Linda McKenzie commented as follows:
Regarding the request to respond to the letter, I reserve my right not to comment as I have requested a meeting with Mike Walters and the councillors for next Wednesday, August 12, to discuss and resolve all issues.
