Editor –
It seems like it is very popular these days to try and silence your critics by threatening them with legal action. I have experienced this twice last week, since daring to write an article calling for a “clean sweep” at Shepstone Place Home for the Aged in Estcourt.
READ THIS: Former Shepstone Place administrator accused of fraud
It has recently come to light that the previous administrator for Shepstone Place, Mrs Debbie Potgieter, had been embezzling funds from the home.
How much and for how long we do not know, as the matter is presently under investigation. “You may have noticed that I didn’t use the word “allegedly”. This is because she has admitted her guilt.
What I am calling for now is for those in charge, who obviously neglected their duty, to resign. This is the “clean sweep” I am calling for, and for which I have been receiving threats.
The first threat came indirectly through a friend of mine. The chairperson of Shepstone Place, Mrs Lane, said something to the effect that I should be careful or I could end up being sued. At least that was the message that was conveyed to me.
The second threat was made directly to my face, in a crowded room. I was attending a public meeting when a Shepstone Place resident began to harangue me in front of my friends and acquaintances with what I can only describe as a barrage of vitriol.
So, what am I to make of these threats? Well, the first thing that is clear to me is that people, who have no argument, will always resort to attacking the person.
This is what is called an “ad hominem” attack. The dictionary defines this as follows: Ad hominem (Latin for “to the person”), short for argumentum ad hominem, typically refers to a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive or other attributes of the person making the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.
I’m calling for “genuine discussion”, but instead it seems as if the general consensus, at least among the present leadership of the home, is to just pretend this never happened and carry on as usual. Well, this did happen and things are not going to be allowed to continue as they have been, regardless of the threats.
Ian Armstrong
A copy of this letter has been sent to Shepstone Place, no response has been received.
READ MORE: Call for a ‘clean sweep’ at Shepstone Place
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