FreeMe meeting postponed due to complaints
PAULSHOF – FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation NPC postpones meeting due to complaints from members.
FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation NPC called a general meeting at the German Country Club on 28 January.
Friends of Free Wildlife members were also present, adorning white T-shirts with the logo #savefreeme. Many posters and banners were created with some saying, “It’s all about the animals not the $’s” and “You can Maar Go.”
The meeting was officially opened by the chairman Sathiananthan Govender. The purpose of the meeting is in response to a request for a general meeting of the company, which was delivered to the Board of Directors on 27 October in 2015. This in short, was a request to have the current board members, Margo Bansda, Rosamond Gerber, Willem Hoogstad and Sathiananthan Govender, removed with immediate effect.
The main issue raised was the validity of the quorum. Govender said, “This could have been discussed before the meeting.” The question of the validity was raised because according to FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation NPC Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI), “The quorum requirement for a members’ meeting to begin, or for a matter to be considered… namely sufficient persons present at the meeting to exercise, in aggregate, at least 25 per cent of all voting rights that are entitled to be exercised at the meeting.”
Attorney on record for Friends of Free Wildlife Allan Warrener, argued that his opposition to the continuation be put into the minutes. Govender requested that any further complaints be written down and presented to the Board to deal with at a later stage.
The next large objection was the validity of the members’ list that entitled those on the list admittance into the meeting. Many members present complained that the list was grossly inaccurate and numerous current members were barred access. He proposed that the meeting be postponed due to complaints from certain members.
After much deliberation, Govender postponed the meeting in order to resolve the issues raised.
Margo Bansda, managing director of FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation NPC said, “We wish to implement processes that will streamline operations, including making FreeMe an appealing and attractive establishment as well as to create better partnerships with other rehabilitation centres and partners.”
Bansda further added that quality care for the animals is the most important task they are undertaking. She explained that they are currently trying to work out a lease with Joburg City Parks and Zoo, a lease that FreeMe never had previously.
Members of Free Wildlife stated that they have valid proof of all of the accusations they have made against the Board. Su Hemer said, “We are not interested in what the previous Board did. What we want is a vote of no confidence for the current Board. All we want is for FreeMe to be run how it used to be in 2008/9 and for the focus to be about the animals.”
An updated article will be published with regard to Bansda’s further vision for FreeMe Wildlife Rehabiliataion NPC as well as Karien Schmidt, the senior animal rehabilitator’s comments on rehabilitation.
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UPDATE: Friends of FreeMe meet
