A funfilled family day was held recently by the DA Gauteng North. These pictures reflect this.

Noting that in answer to a question to Council

1. It is compulsory for members of the EMPD to wear clearly visible identification at all times whilst on duty.
2. No EMPD officers have been disciplined for not wearing identification in the past 5 years.

Believing that

Non-wearing of identification whilst on duty is common-place amongst members of the EMPD.

All employees of the Metro should be easily identifiable by members of the public for whom they provide services to.

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Officers in particular should be easily identifiable by members of the public to prevent abuse of power, corruption and the activities of bogus police officers.

Should a member of the EMPD not have visible identification the public have every right to assume the officer to be bogus and ignore any instructions made.

The Council therefore resolves that strict enforcement of the rule that identification be worn at all times whilst on duty be applied to all staff and especially to members of the EMPD because of their special powers.

That an urgent memo is sent to all EMPD officers stating the following:

1. In terms of the Police Act it is law to carry an ID card with a recent photo and a visible name badge as part of the uniform of the EMPD. 
2. Daily inspections should take place as the EMPD officers come on duty.  Part of the duty of the Senior Superintendent who conducts the daily inspection as part of his officer’s function should be to verify that identification is worn as it forms part of the officer’s full uniform.  
3. Urgent disciplinary measures will be taken against senior staff conducting the inspections as well as the officer on duty if they are found to be not adhering to stipulations within the Police Act requiring the wearing of identification.

Proposer Clr GAP Fenn

Seconder Clr M Clarke

The CANSA Shavathon 2010 has proved to be a nation-building event that united young and old, rural communities and city slickers, in fact, the inhabitants of all 9 provinces, in the fight against cancer. With the generous support of all South Africans throughout the country the CANSA Shavathon 2010 proved to be a great success.

 The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) hosted, for the seventh time, its annual Shavathon throughout the country on 5 and 6 March 2010. “These days proved to be more successful that even I anticipated”, said Manny de Freitas, CANSA Gauteng Provincial Chairman.

 De Freitas said that thousands of people shaved or colour-sprayed their hair showing solidarity with cancer survivors and also remembered our loved ones who have lost their lives to cancer. CANSA Shavathon fundraising took place in over 300 workplaces and 150 shopping centres across South Africa.

 “I was particularly moved by a courageous cancer survivor of 17 years, Maria da Costa who put herself out there with a message of hope although she has lost family members, has family members going though treatment and is personally also suffering,” de Freitas said.

 Manny de Freitas said that because of the generous support of South Africans throughout the country, the Shavathon has, no doubt, set a benchmark higher than that of last year’s.

Photo caption: Picture taken at the CANSA Shavathon 2010; Manny de Freitas, CANSA Gauteng Provincial Chair (centre) with Maria da Costa (in pink) with Joel Perry, CANSA Gauteng Manager (left) with bikers who travelled throughout Gauteng with Maria da Costa

In South Africa we have many problems and most residents are frustrated beyond explanation. This frustration has even led ordinary members who are normally quite happy to go with the flow, to say enough is enough, things have to change. People are beginning to ask what should I do to make a difference, to make a change which will bring about a positive improvement? Where do I bring my efforts to bear? Is it crime? Is it AID’s? Is it corruption? Or is it one of the many other phrases which we use to classify problems in society? What is causing the unhappiness and grief in South Africa?

Many will tell you that poor and inefficient government has to accept responsibility for the shortcomings resulting from failure to deliver clean, focused and effective administration. If government is the cause then we as the people who have elected our administrators need to ask where should government start to correct the problems? Is it not true that most problems in South Africa today have their root in the poor macro socio-economic environment in which troubled communities are found? Poor education and the lack of understanding of how economies should work are the key drivers for socio-economic disaster. In most parts of our country people live in disaster zones. Man made catastrophes which rub off on surrounding communities and which have infiltrated the entire society in which we live.

Many things which our parents teach us are forgotten as we struggle on the journey of life but one thing which will always stay in my head are the words of my father ”…they can take away everything form you but no one can take away your education.” These were amongst his regular admonishment to myself to ensure that I study harder. At the time when you have the opportunity to learn most people take it for granted and we don’t understand how lucky we are.

How are we to provide this “better life for all” promised to the people? How do we build a country which resembles that promised by the Constitution? Economic development and education as core solutions to the problems which we face. In our open opportunity society we realize that all of our residents need to be assisted to help themselves. People who can not provide for their families and whose dignity has been lost as a result, can not be productive law abiding citizens. When governments have repeatedly failed to up-skill citizens, to provide opportunities and motivation for citizens to provide for themselves, then that country will be faced by internal war. The war between law abiding citizens and criminals, the war between those who have and those who want more.

In an attempt to provide the motivation and the broad understanding of what is required to reverse the socio-economic degeneration in our country the Democratic Alliance in this region have brought entrepreneurial development workshops to residents. We are opening the eyes of people who have been indoctrinated into a world where government must provide and showing how as ordinary citizens we need to take ownership of our own circumstances in-order to find a way to provide for yourself.

The skills of an entrepreneur are applied in business, government and in non public benefit bodies. The skills are used whether you own your own business or if you are employed in a large corporate environment. We believe that by exposing and providing residents with these skills during these workshops we will be able to make a small impact which we can build on during 2011 as the new administrators of local government in this Democratic Alliance region. Residents who wish to participate in these workshops and or volunteer to assist in bringing about positive change in South Africa can contact our regional office for more information.

Author: Brandon Topham, Regional Chairman, Gauteng North Branch, DA