UPDATE: Friends of FreeMe meet
PAULSHOF – Friends of FreeMe host an open meeting to the public.
Friends and volunteers of FreeMe Gauteng gathered at the Rietfontein Nature Reserve for an open meeting on 8 December.
More than 30 people attended the impromptu meeting where the road forward for FreeMe Gauteng (a separate entity from FreeMe KwaZulu-Natal) was discussed since its closure.
FreeMe Gauteng board member Margo Bansda and Shathi Govender were invited to the meeting but did not present themselves.
Margi Brocklehurst said, “We as ex-volunteers or staff are not allowed on FreeMe Gauteng property and as a result, we had to host this meeting right next door.”
Brocklehurst reiterated the issues of mismanagement that have resulted in the closure of the organisation.
Sheryl Fox, a past volunteer, has been working tirelessly to work effectively with legal entities in order to resolve the issue.
“The problem is that current board members are able to vote in other members,” she said.
Fox explained that they had submitted about 40 CVs to FreeMe Gauteng in order to become members, also that a volunteer has the right to become a member after six months. “Of the 40 we submitted, only two were accepted – the others were rejected for a variety of reasons.”
Bansda apparently sent an email to Paulshof residents, desperately explaining the situation.
It read, “In October we appointed Karien Schmidt as the FreeMe rehabilitator and then they totally rebelled, stole animals and databases, laid complaints with the NSPCA and went on strike – all having an impact on the animals and their mortality.” The email from Bansda further said, “These rogue volunteers are represented by a few volunteers and it seems that this is not about the animals but power,” adding that, “In the meantime there may be a possibility (due to a badly written MOI) that these few volunteers can call for an AGM. These women have also requested this AGM to oust the current board. We are doing everything in our power to deal with things from a legal perspective but I think the Paulshof community needs to know what is happening and protect the organisation.”
Bansda of FreeMe Gauteng was yet again contacted for comment but to no avail.
The meeting was reminiscent of what FreeMe Gauteng used to be and despondence of the current board. “It is important to note that the biggest issue right now are the animal cases that are still at FreeMe Gauteng, and who is looking out for their welfare,” added Brocklehurst.
Details: FreeMe Gauteng, 011 807 6993.
