Oh dear.  Another one bit the dust.

Does anyone know what happened to the Association’s firm intent to sue us as soon as subscriptions were due in February?  I know that I have not received a summons yet, how about you?

By this time, the San Marina Recreational Club’s financials should have been on a firm footing; what with Comrade Julius … I mean Leon … suing everyone left right and centre for arrear subs,  and Comrade Jul … I mean Leon does say that “the Club financials has improved” in his February 2009 Newsletter.

So why then is the Club CLOSED???

According to Leon, they cannot keep up with the “constant vandalism” apparently committed by non-members - but a little birdie told me that it may just be that the finances are a bit depleted by the legal costs incurred by Leon in pursuing court cases against members who have chosen to defend themselves.

Now, it is by no means cut-and-dried that the Club will be able to recoup the monies spent in this way, as, as explained earlier in this website, at least some of those who have been sued may just have a valid case.

I am however a bit confused about the February 2009 Newsletter displayed on the San Marina Recreational Club’s website … despite the fact that the CLUB IS CLOSED, (during the hottest time of the year), people are warned by the Committee to:  “Remember if you do not have an ID or your subs are in arrears; please do not come to the club. You will be asked to leave the premises and it will be quite uncomfortable for all.”  Seems to me that, if you want a swim on a hot day like today, you are going to be uncomfortable regardless of whether you have paid your subs or have an ID

No doubt some of you will have received a letter from Magnum Credit Consultants, little Christmas present which took the form of a letter of demand for arrear subscriptions for the Marina da Gama Association and some of you have asked me what to do.  I cannot tell you what to do, but I will not pay them.

In all the years of my fighting with the Marina da Gama Association, they have not been able to establish their legitimacy as a compulsory home-owners’ association.  They may have called themselves the Eastlake Association in days of lore, but that does not mean to say that they were the Eastlake Association referred to in my title deed.  You see, even if I was called Mary, that does not make me the Virgin Mary.  I have looked for this proof everywhere, at their offices, at Council’s offices, at Provincial Government level, at the Deeds Office and even at the Master of the Supreme Court’s offices.  It is simply not there.

These people are asking us for our hard-earned money.  They must prove that they are entitled thereto.  They have not done so, and indeed, all the “evidence” they have given me points directly to the fact that they are not the association referred to in my title deed.

If they sue me, I will ask them for (amongst others):

1. The approved minutes of the meeting where the original constitution was adopted by its members.
2. proof that Cape Town City Council and/or Provincial Government ratified a copy of the Marina Da Gama Association’s constitution and
3. a copy of such approved and ratified constitution and
4. any other documentation whatsoever proving that this Association is indeed the Association referred to in my title deed.

I find it quite underhanded that the Association is likening themselves to the San Marina Recreational Club.  It is not the same thing.  San Marina Recreational Club has common property on which rates and taxes have to be paid.  Marina Da Gama Association does not.  Indeed, ExCom are bold enough to put in their Letter of Demand that they are going to use the monies distorted from us in order to install irrigation systems on Council property and to paint walls which belong to private home-owners.  Since when am I responsible for painting my neighbours’ walls, or irrigating Council property?

No, they must do what they like.  If they sue me, I will defend myself and they will have to prove to a Court that they are the Association referred to in my title deed.  If they have not been able to do so up till now, I don’t see how they will be able to establish their claim.

Anita

Marina da Gama has once again been in the news …

Today’s Argus blurted out the news that Marina Da Gama has been plaqued by a spate of robberies with thieves entering the properties from the waterside.  This article was immediately picked up by the other media and I have even found an article on the internet which reads:

Dec 13 2008 Armed robbers in speed boats have started attacking and looting the super-rich families in Marina da Gama, a beautiful waterside community only 25 minutes away from Cape Town ’s central business district in South Africa.

We all know that waterside robberies are not that an uncommon phenomenon in Marina Da Gama.  For years robbers have stolen our little dinghies and pedalos, or they just wade the shallow water to get to the waterfront properties.  This is why I cannot see the silly little security scheme which the Association dreamt up as being effective at all.  If you have gueards patrolling your streets, the thieves will find an alternative way of getting into your property.  The more organised the security, the more ingenious the thieves get and the more dangerous the situation becomes.

I believe that we all need to me more vigilant.  I agree that one should be able to leave your doors and windows open, but that is not the way things are in South Africa.  Just because you have a guard patrolling the streets, it does not mean that you are safe.  Quite the contrary, the chances are that you will relax your vigilance which (in this case) leaves the back-door open for the thieves to get it.  Most of the intrusions into our homes are because we feel safe enough not to bother to check our own homes to see where a thief may gain entry.  In South Africa today, one cannot be too careful.  Look at your home with they eye of a thief, and then take whatever steps necessary to safeguard your property.  Don’t rely on others to protect your property for you.  Take responsibility for your own and your neighbour’s safety.  Secure your home and be vigilant. Know and look out for your neighbours and if you see anything untoward, raise the alarm. Oh, and please secure your watercraft.  I am sure you do not want it to be used to break into your own or your neighbour’s property.

On a side-issue, I have to giggle at Marina Da Gama being seen as the home of the “super-rich”.  Sure, there are some relatively affluent people in Marina Da Gama, but the majority of us are just simple, middle-class folk, who, in these trying times, are strugling along to make ends meet.   Granted though, it is a most spectacular middle-class suburb which, had all gone well, could have been just that - the home of the super-rich.

Cathy, now fondly known as Lamb Chop, has today applied for a Restraining Order against ExCom Member of the Marina Da Gama Association and Chairman of the San Marina Recreational Club, Mr. Leon Lee, for the threats he has made against her and others on this website (see San Marina residents take a stand). She says that she is petrified of running into him while on her rounds to collect signatures for the petition against the club.

Mr. Lee has been lambasted for his now infamous phrase “I have no problem people attacking me as the Chairman of the club but let it be known to all that if you make this personal I will hunt you down and take you out of your misery like a sick animal.”

Meanwhile, it is still an open question as to why some Title Deeds reflect that the home-owners are owners and others just enforce membership of the Club. Constitutionally, we have freedom of association, meaning that membership of a private club cannot be enforced. As some owners apparently “own” the club, while others are merely “members”, this leaves a huge question as to who must belong to the club and who not.

JT said:  WHOOOOOAAAAA STOP THE LORRY!! I am so excited. Lordy, Leon, I owe you an apology of note. You’re right your title says you own the Club!! This could be huge. Bigger than huge. This means that some title deeds say member and some say owner. Vrek but that’s weird!

Everybody check your title deeds straight away to see if you’re an owner or just a member.

My goodness no wonder there is so much confusion in San Marina. I can’t believe nobody has picked this up before - but see, dears, how open dialogue helps clear things up.

Leon could even be the sole owner of the Club and indeed an instant millionnaire. Leon you better check this out and let us know the tally ‘owner members’ vs ‘non-owner members’. I wait in great anticipation…

There are residents in the San Marina area who heard a knock on their door one morning – it was the sheriff of the court with papers to attach their few household belongings.
This was all thanks to Leon Lee. Did this spineless weasel ever think a little further than his arrogant self? Just maybe these people who had their worldly goods attached had no job, had children to feed, were on the verge of loosing their house or flat perhaps? Did this little man ever think of the consequences of his actions and perhaps precarious situation some of these people were in!!!
My God Lee don’t you ever think before taking actions like this?? What I think or presume is that you possibly work for a large corporation; maybe your exceptional skills have not been recognized and due to being the underdog with no recognition, you feel the need to explore avenues to vent.
With this being the scenario, it would make sense that you need to bully, threaten and attempt to manipulate for your own vanity and arrogance.
I guess that prats, with little or no common decency towards their fellow man, need to feel important and authoritative.

There will be bring and braai on Saturday 1 November from 5 p.m. onwards at the San Marina Recreational Clubhouse. All residents (family and friends) are welcome to come along and meet the guys (and gal) who are patrolling the streets and to answer any queries. Music and karaoke later in the evening.

Also on Monday 3^rd November at 7 p.m. Sgt Naidoo from S.A.P.S. will be giving us a talk about the “do’s and don’t’s” of a neighbourhood watch. I know that this date and time clashes with the MdG AGM but Sgt Naidoo has a very full diary and I would hate to mess her around.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR BETS

Will Pietie fire Leon before the Association AGM?