DOUGLASDALE – Desigan Pillay has been selected as the new Douglasdale CPF chairperson, along with five other permanent committee members elected on 5 June.
Desigan Pillay is the new chairperson of the Douglasdale CPF. He had previously served as treasurer of the interim CPF, is the acting chairperson of Sector 1 and has been part of his local neighbourhood watch since 2017. Photo: Robyn Kirk
It has been a long road, but the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) now has a permanent executive committee.
On 5 June, the top six positions on the CPF executive board were filled with permanent occupants when the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) and elections were held at the Indaba Hotel. This comes after a year and a half of engagement with the community through numerous meet-and-greets in each of the four sectors, after the last elections were postponed when community members complained about a lack of transparency.
The positions filled on the night were chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, vice secretary, treasurer and public relations officer. Although initially, the positions of crime prevention officer and youth and school coordinator were also going to be filled during the meeting, these elections were postponed because the CPF constitution only calls for the top six to be voted in.
“There’s been a lot of engagement in the last year and a half,” explained Margaret van Zwieten, who before the elections served as interim chairperson since October of last year. “We’ve held many meet-and-greets in the community and also got the [four] sectors established and it was time to hold elections.” Check out this week’s front page for the full story.
Colonel Moeti Senna, who is the acting station commander for the Douglasdale Police Station, gives the welcoming speech before the voting began on 5 June at the Indaba Hotel on William Nicol Drive. Photo: Robyn KirkMicheal Sun, the MMC for Public Safety, gives a keynote address during the AGM where the committee was decided. “I feel honoured to be invited here tonight,” he said. “People don’t always appreciate how much CPF members give – what they sacrifice, the long hours they spend and the fact that they don’t get paid. I want to use the opportunity to say thank you.” Photo: Robyn KirkIt’s been a long road to a permanent committee for the CPF. Back in October 2018 Captain Celliers of the Douglasdale police, Thabo Thipe from the MEC for Community Safety’s office, Margaret van Zwieten (who served in the role of interim chairperson until 5 June’s elections) and Constable Baloyi attend one of the many public meetings held for the community. Photo: Robyn Kirk/fileLizzy Mabena, who is currently the chairperson of Sector 2, an entrepreneur and a Bloubosrand resident, was one of the two nominees for the position of CPF chairperson along with Desigan Pillay (not pictured). Of the forty votes cast, Mabena received 19 against Pillay’s 21. Photo: Robyn KirkNeil Hays served as the interim chairperson of the Douglasdale CPF from June 3018 until October, when Margaret van Zwieten (not pictured) took over the position. Photo: Robyn Kirk/fileThe new public relations officer is Lindsay Engelbrecht, the new deputy chairperson is Manoj Bhoola, the new deputy secretary is Tshepo Marakalala, the new treasurer is Tsitsi Sekgobela, the new secretary is Delia Diedericks and the new chairman is Desigan Pillay. Photo: Robyn Kirk
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