Months before the incident, Dianne and her boarder, Robbie Ernst, tried again and again to get help from the police and the Independent Complaints Directorate simply to be ignored and persecuted. (For Robbie’s story, please visit Marina Da Gama Security.)

Robbie’s story shows how vulnerable ordinary South African citizens have become. We are supposed to tell our children that the police are there to protect us. We are supposed to tell them that, if they are in trouble, they should feel free to go to the police and they will be helped.

Dianne and Robbie believed that they too would be protected by the police, but their cries for help fell on deaf ears, so it fell to her to protect her children. Dianne jumped into the line of fire when Tony pulled off five shots at her teenage son. Two of the bullets hit her and she died twenty minutes later on the pavement in front of her house. The gun was apparently unlicensed.

It is believed that this heroic mother’s tragic death could have been prevented if only the Police and the Independent Complaints Directorate had taken the trouble to act on their cries for help.

Currently Tony is at Valkenberg for psychiatric observation. His lawyer, William Booth, believes that he is not competent to stand trial.

Once elected these people disappear and mysteriously reappear come election time, blowing their trumpets on what they claim to have achieved, although most of the work was done by institutions and people other than themselves.

Take Demetri Qually, the southern suburbs councillor for the Muizenberg and surrounding area. Now this particular politician did not even bother to go to the trouble of canvassing us, but took a free ride on the DA-ticket, and it shows. The suburb has been on a downhill spiral ever since he got voted in, and, unfortunately, he will remain there till the next election. What a shame and waste of tax payers money.

It would be assumed the surrounding parks and waterways, leading to the Muizenberg beach outlet, has a fair amount of importance to the area. How difficult (or expensive) can it be to implement a permanent team of one or two people to keep area free of litter.

Busloads of Tourist drive past this estuary many times a day yet there seems to be a lack of commitment by council, and no pressure from our councillor, to implement basic cleanliness. Such a simple task! So Important!

Watch this space as the dirt on Councillor Qually grows.

It is my opinion that the Marina Da Gama Association is doing this community a huge, huge disservice and costing us all a lot of money (and years off our lives). What are they doing to our property prices?

Seriously, with this huge controversy going around, no-one wants to buy, rent, or live in Marina Da Gama any longer and the value of our properties are declining daily. Houses are on the market for months on end and the estate agent boards litter the pavements over the weekends. People are forced to drop their selling price in order to get rid of their houses. (What a pity this did not happen before the City of Cape Town did their valuations. At least then our rates would not have been this high. Unfortunately, now the next valuation is only a couple of years down the line and in the meantime we are stuck with property we cannot sell and rates which are sky-high.)

One of the reasons for the security scheme was to IMPROVE our property values, but, because ExCom do not want to listen to its members, we now sit with a situation where people are asked to put pressure on their neighbours to join the scheme. A friend of mine lives in Cannon Island Way and I am told that they even go as far as to publish what each person owes towards the scheme, even if you did not sign up!!! How dare they publish such private information!? After all, I am told the schemes are still supposed to be voluntary! Who wants to live in a neighbourhood where you are ostracized, intimidated and where your privacy is invaded?

The threat of monthly levies being implemented will also put off any potential buyer. Who knows where it will lead, especially if you have an Executive Committee who, clearly, are not even prepared to listen to reason? They have not even bothered to answer William’s very reasonable request to respond to his well balanced letter.

Our Councillor, Demetri Qually, will also certainly not get my vote again. I think he could have solved this mess, but instead he seems to be a spoke in the wheel. Demetri, please, if you can help at all, now is not the time to remain on the fence. Let this madness stop!

submitted by Corlia

Councillor Qually, would this matter not have, at least to some extent, been settled if you had implemented the decision made by your sub-council? We realise the decision made was not the one that would have happened had you chaired the meeting, but the decision was made nonetheless. Why does goodwill only go one way or do you think that wishing us a joyous festive season is enough?

We voted for you because we wanted more than merry wishes. We wanted a resident councillor who was going to listen to us and look out for the best interests of the entire Marina Da Gama, but I cannot see that you feel that Marina Da Gama is worth listening to.

Why can’t we have a referendum? Why are you all so scared of public participation? The chairman can, to some extent, still be excused. He does not have the training to be the leader of such a large community, but you should know better. In politics, public participation is vital, and you know it.

Just a reminder: A ratepayers’ or a civic association is not a homeowners’ association – if this association is a ratepayers association, please let us know. At the AGM, you told us that this association is like every other ratepayer’s or civic association.

Quite frankly, Marina Da Gama Association is unique. Nowhere in Cape Town, no, in South Africa, have I ever heard of a homeowners’ association which has NO common property. It is an entire suburb, not a little complex.

You want us to show goodwill. Well, why don’t you lead by example! Show the residents of Marina Da Gama that you care by asking us what WE want. We deserve that much and it is not a lot to ask for. I believe that, should either side be able to prove that they have the majority support, there will be no further problems. One way or the other, many people will probably sell their homes and leave, but at least those remaining will have a solid basis to build on.

Now we sit with a very wishy-washy situation where no-one knows where they really stand, we have no security and a very, very dangerous constitution.

I guess you expect us to trust in the goodwill of ExCom. I am sorry; they have shown NO goodwill to the objectors in the last year and a half. We have been insulted, ignored and humiliated at each turn. Just read the list of quotable quotes from ExCom. Even so, we are more than willing to discuss and to try to settle this odious matter.

After the AGM I was pulled aside by Mr. Hepple and asked whether I would mind giving my telephone number to Mr. Craske of the Archcom Committee in order to discuss the matter. Of course I said yes, but I am still waiting for anyone to contact me. Goodwill goes both ways. In my opinion, you have shown very little and the association has shown none.

Written by Anita

The Marina Association is headed by Harrison.

Then those opposed to his “one for all security plan“.

The Marina news pamphlet is like the old days of apartheid where a minority used its own print media for propaganda. Letters of opinion are always in favor of the security plan.

It would seem Harrison uses the Marina news for his self-centered opinion and ideas.

Quoting his words – “the free riders will be obliged to pay in due course” – what arrogance!!!

Most of my immediate neighbors and many more in Marina Da Gama have all the standard South African, unfortunately necessary security measures in place.

Our security measures are already paid for – but Harrison wants us to keep paying!

Unfortunately the good folk of Sonnet and Spearhead are suffering because of delays in their security plan. Well finally they seem to have organized themselves and drawn up a security plan – that’s excellent.

What took them so long to figure out they had somebody living next door?

The marina association only represents homeowners that pay a subscription - where does this money go?

This electric fencing the association had installed is in disrepair. Who is the professional idiot that did this installation in the first place.

Maintained electric fencing is a priority as one can see with the association. Somebody is trying to make money out of this far fetched security plan.

Another quote “Standards inspector, resulted in considerable improvements”

I don’t see it – do you? Where?

Your standards inspector comment (third letter triggers costly legal action) Marina office told me cannot force owners to keep pavements neat and tidy. How about broken walls and fencing or homes that need a coat of paint. Don’t these simple things change the hole appearance of a suburb.

As one can see the Marina Da Gama Association standards manual is enforced. This fence has been getting progressively worse over the past seven years. Below one example of many homes in need of paint. Note the bill board advertising loans.

Oudevlei Road tarmac was in a state of disrepair. The association apparently tried with no joy, yet somebody else did not affiliated to the association.

The Marina Association must realize this is post 1994, we all have equal rights with freedom of choice.

Questions un-answered

What happened to the money the association secretary took? Since the association threatens homeowners with legal action for non compliance with “standards” and debt collection fees for non payment of association fees?

Why is administration costs so high? What is done to come close to warrant such cost.

Why is there no tenders for marina improvements ie electric fencing / painting etc. Never seen anything advertised in marina news. My feeling is that there’s possible kickbacks among select few in the know.

Who owns Magnum debt collectors. Wonder if there is a conflict of interest.

Marina pamphlet has more news on waterways and link employment and Capricorn park not to mention a mouth piece for self centered chairmans opinion.

Why change from cost effective print media to expensive glossy paper.?

This is a appeal to all Marina Da Gama residents to make comments and feel free to voice your opinion on this website. The idea here is to make this the official website of the marina residents.

What makes it different is that all comments will be published for reviews by all to read, Unlike the association which is bias towards its own ideals this site is impartial.

For those wanting to write a page for publication you can email posting to Marinaforum@Gmail.com or register and write/make comments immediately.

To register go to bottom of page and click on comments
Page will reload again and then go to bottom again clicking on ” you must be logged in to post comment

click on register and fill in details to get password

Note your comment will show within 24hr.

The outcome of a budget resolution showed the following:

In favour of resolution 277

Against 63

Spoilt papers 18

TOTAL OF 358 members

So with only 20.36% the Marina Association adopts a resolution.

(79.64%)1002 members did not vote, yet a resolution is passed.!

Why property owners tolerate this Association run by a select few is beyond comprehension. With figures like these, coupled with their blatant arrogance, they are certainly running out of shelf life.

The councillor did not bother to reply to this open letter, so my question still remains un-answered – is he economically beneficial to us, the rate-payers.

Dear Councillor Qually The following post will be placed on my website, onlyinsa.com by next week Friday. As our local Councillor I however would like to give you the opportunity to comment before it gets posted.What do you do when you feel your local Councillor has sold you out?
In the past year and a half, Marina Da Gama has been in dire conflict. It all started when a group of residents felt that crime was escalating and they wanted to turn the Marina into a “boom-gated village“.Council was not going to grant permission for any road-closures, so, the community decided that they would take matters into their own hands and try to implement a scheme whereby guards would be placed at the entrances to the Marina. Now, all this is very well, but it costs money, and the enterprising Executive Committee of the Marina Da Gama Association saw an opportunity to make a nice little profit out of our common need to feel safe in our homes. In a hyped up meeting we were entertained by a two-and-a-half-hour sales pitch in which we were told that, if we did not change the constitution to give Excom additional powers, we would be raped, robbed and murdered. We were shown pictures of ladies getting mugged on our streets (apparently a re-enactment), battle scenes and other gruesome scenarios.So, brainwashed and scared out of their wits, the meeting voted to implement the security scheme.

What Excom did not tell us, is that they have now bought themselves a nice little nest-egg with a built in insurance policy. The grand total of just under R3 000 000.00 (yes, that is R3 million for those who got tired of counting the zeros) was proposed to implement the scheme. Excom wanted R60 000.00 per month for administration. They earmarked one of their own for a cushy little half-day job at R20 000.00 per month, and to make things even easier for her, the would give her an assistant at R10 000.00 per month. What was going to happen to the other R30 000.00 is anyone’s guess.

In addition, should they mess up, the members would have to pay for their foul-ups. You see, the 2004 constitution limited our liability to our yearly levy, but the proposed changes made no such provision and we could all be held liable for their mistakes. This is a very likely scenario, given the fact that an Excom Member said that he does not care what the law said and that they should implement the scheme without the proper permission. Should anybody should sue the Association, at least it’s not their own money that would have been wasted.

But some of us were not that easily fooled, and so, the Battle of the Marina started. Our chairman was right there, telling people that a little bit of peer pressure on our neighbours would be welcomed so neighbour stopped speaking to neighbour. Objectors were vilified and branded, amongst others, “ill-informed”, “old bats” and the latest – wait for it – “headless chickens”. Even the recent murder of a neighbour in the Marina was linked to the security scheme.

Two parties formed. There were the Excom supporters, lead by the Peter Harrison. Then there are the Objectors, (now fondly known as the Headless Chicken Parade), publicly lead by Anita.Now, Anita is by no means ill-informed. Nor is she an old bat, but she does seem to be prepared to run around like a headless chicken to protect us and our rights. She and her merry band of headless chickens ran through the corridors of many a government and other building, on their way to gathering information. They searched the archives of Council, Province, the Deeds Office, Anglo American and even went to the archives of the High Court. They spoke to whomever they could to find out about the history of the Marina. The irony is that ultimately, she what she needed from our own Chairman. He gave her a copy of an Association newsletter which clearly says that this constitution they are so proud of, has never been adopted by an AGM, which means that it is not legitimate.

So, Anita and the Headless Chickens sent this information to Council and managed to do what every-one thought would be impossible. They managed beat the bullies by persuading Council to effectively tell the Association that their meeting was not properly conducted and that proper public participation had not been conducted.

And that is where our illustrious Councillor stepped in and, in my opinion, sold us all out. It seems as if he is prepared sit back and just take all the insults the Association has thrown his way. His own sub-council’s decisions are made a complete mockery of but our Councillor is deafening in his silence. Seemingly quite prepared to sit back and let the Association ride roughshod over everyone.

Now, Mr. Councillor, could you please tell us, are the decisions taken by YOUR sub-council binding? Are you aware that an entire community is about to be fleeced, or do you just simply not care? Why did you call a meeting a “good example of transparency and open debate with a clear, democratic outcome” when members with legitimate questions and objections were told to “shut up and sit down”? Why did you not stand up and say something when the Chairman told people to put peer-pressure on one another, or when people’s lives were placed at risk when a particularly provocative newsletter was sent out by Excom? What are you there for, Mr. Councillor?We realise that the Association was your springboard into local politics here, but really, Mr. Councillor, this whole community under treat. You do have the means to protect us, but maybe you are just to busy to be “seen to be unbiased?” For goodness sake, DO SOMETHING!!!

Except for getting a Fat Cat Salary, what does a councillor of a ward do? Is a councillor economically sustainable.

Apparently should a taxpayer have allegations against their elected, the very least they can do is have the guts to say so in public.

Therefore my questions to the elected councillor for this area are: Why are the Main access roads into Marina Da Gama in such shocking condition? Why is Council owned property/land not maintained on a regular basis?

What have you done about the robots on Oudevlei Rd and Prince George Drive? Might I suggest you rise the same time as the working class one morning and look at the problem first hand.

Military road and Prince George Drive Traffic light: this one a absolute favorite for being knocked down on a regular basis. It doesn’t take much common sense to solve the problem cheaply. A concrete barrier or similarly strong metal barrier would help. The money wasted on repairs here could easily have paid for robots for Oudevlei Road many times over, but then, that would service the less privileged in Vryground. Now they want to install robots at the new development in Cannon Island Way. What happened to benefiting both the man in the mansion and the man in the shack simultaneously?

When will the owner of these goats get penalized and warned on the hazards these animals pose-grazing along Prince George Drive? Must somebody be killed first? Will it be alleged that the ward councillor was not aware of the problem!?

Will the southern suburbs go the same way as the Cape Town center as shown in above picture?

Now as is the norm, councillors/ politicians, when allegedly accused of fractionated management skills, immediately go into denial, followed by saying a committee has been elected to investigate.

Even Marina Da Gama has followed by example and formed a committee to investigate the security problems, allegedly with a large support base(which has not been consulted)

A simple vote by all residents of Marina Da Gama will solve this problem, but that will not happen since those that don’t belong to the Marina Da Gama Association or pay their subs have no rights. When will they realize we live in a democratic country with freedom of choice?

As for the the elected ward councillor it is the voters right to know if you bring value for money since we put you there and pay your salary. Please take this into account and answer my questions.