I quote ” The marina is a rather special place known for its natural beauty, waterside lifestyle and neatness of homes in the area.The Marina da Gama Association’s committee and in particular the standards Committee, have the unenviable  task of maintaining standards and reminding owners…. blah blah blah. Well I say to hell with the standards committee members. One of these slugs decided to make a drop off reminding me of their “standards”. The inside of my parapets are painted black as my roof. This is not inline with the design manual Im told. So bloody what!!!!!, its neat and tidy. My house is always white, neat and tidy as is the kerb. In fact I cut  my lazy neighbours kerb grass just to keep the area tidy as well. So I drove around and did a spot check on “neatness and standards”. Firstly I noted many homes with parapets painted black.  Quite frankly I feel cheated as I was under the impression I was the first to do this, clearly not. So Im not the only one getting “gatvol” of unsightly parapets. Below are some pictures of Marina Association recommended long term standards? Some have stood the test of time.

The standards member that dared drop off his pathetic notice in my post-box, you’re F….. Blind, get your eyes out of your ass, and look around carefully at what really needs attention!

Stop being a absolute asshole, Sure I will  gladly conform to your obsolete design manual, but listen and read carefully only once you resolve disgusting  examples as shown here.

If you think your are going to attempt or try to bully me as the likes of the ex vermin hunter of San Marina Association think again.

This is so “not conforming to the manual” But wait this takes priority and demands attention.  Mr Standards committee, bring it on, give it your best shot to get me to change my parapet back to white.

Since you are both blind and clearly retarded as you seem to lack insight into what is neat and tidy, maybe I can take you around myself to physically show you what requires your urgent attention.

I get the feeling some of the paid members of the MDGA are there for the good of the area as a whole, but then you get the blind “STANDARDS” member/s with inferiority complexes and use the MDGA as a stepping stone to attempt to show some form of authority they clearly lack in the work place and possibly there whole lives as a whole. Well you have picked the wrong person to bully. I was that person you hated and wished you were all you life!!!.

Once again, the Executive Committee of the Marina Da Gama Association is lying to it’s members:

FICTION

 Extract – MDGA Chairman’s Report per 2009 AGM Notice:-

 “…Copies of mark-up documents and all issues of the constitution have been handed to Council.  This is to ensure that council is once again, in possession of all of the required documentation…”

FACT

 Extract – Letter Council to MDGA dd 18 Aug 2009:-

 “…3.3.1            The April 1986 Constitution of the Eastlake Association has been submitted to this Council by yourself as the existing constitution prior to the commencement of LUPO.  This aforementioned constitution appears to be a revision of the 1979 constitution and this Council is not aware of any legal link between the 1979 and 1986 constitutions.  The responsibility and liability vests with yourself that the April 1986 Constitution of the Eastlake Association has been drawn up and approved by persons legally empowered to do so.

 3.3.2    The responsibility and liability vest with yourself that your members are aware of and are in agreement with your actions as set out in your letter dated 2009-06-19 to this Council…”

When will Excom stop lying to it’s members???

Same shit different asshole! “Janaman”, the self proclaimed estate manager was as blind as a bat, without a backbone as he failed dismally on improving basic standards and refused to respond to valid complaints or suggestions on area improvements. Is the new standards boytjie related to Julius? Are you all ass and mouth, are you going to run with your ass between your legs when you get reprimanded by irate home owners who take pride in their homes.  Run, run to you chairman crying for action to be taken , you pathetic fool.!!!!

Get your basic priorities in order else you will become a has being as the San Marina’s ex chairman.

Well, while the de-throned chairman licks his wounds and attempts to regain some basic humane dignity in the San Marina Club saga I wonder if any of these boys ever bothered to drive around within their area.

The San Marina areas is a sess pool of dirty poorly maintained homes and ill fitting to be associated with the Marina Da Gama area as a whole.

Section 12.1 of the new constitution of the Marina da Gama Association states that:

12.1    The monthly levies for each year shall be set at the Annual General Meeting which shall be held no later than 3 months before the beginning of the new financial year, at such time and place as may be determined by ExCom.

Notice has to be given in writing at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting and, to date, ExCom have not yet called an AGM.

This leaves us with a very interesting scenario:  ExCom has missed the deadline at which the amount of the levies can be determined by the AGM, which in turn means that, in terms of their own constitution, they do not have the right to charge any levies for the 2010 year at all!

Ladies and gentlemen.  ExCom has missed the boat (again)!

Leon  has lost his powers as a “hunter of sick animals” the animals being residents that refused to pay subs. Will this bring a calm to the San Marina remains to be seen. Hopefully the new chairman/lady will be more diplomatic and open minded.

As for Leon, bring up apartheid theory’s, youre simply a crybaby, Deal with it!!! no body cares. The Marina does not need the likes of you.

In the past year, while many residents in the San Marina were being bullied, had their furniture confiscated by the sheriffs and blacklisted. The finances of the San Marina Recreation Club was being mismanaged. According to the recent audited financial statements of the SMRC, there was a healthy surplus of R71,026 at the end of 2008, the club is now showing a deficit of R67.022. A difference of mor than R138.000. Operational expences increased by more than R70.000 representing an increase exceeding 80 percent, while income from subscriptions decreased despite all the money spent on lawyers. If this is not shocking enough, there is a proposal to increase subscriptions to pay salaries of R4500 each to two people to maintain the clubhouse.If you are able to make it for the meeting, please email us at gonowleon@gmail.com or contact or sms 083 410 4645 or 083 5056911 to arrange for a proxy if you not able to do it yourself.Contrary to what is being suggested in the proxy form that was given to SAN Marina residents, you can nominate anyone as a proxy even a non member, according to clause 16 of the constitution of the SMRC on the website.LETS RID SAN MARINA OF THIS CURSE

JT wrote:

With the 2009 AGM rolling around, it is probably a good idea to air the latest rumour doing the rounds regarding the Marina Da Gama Association.

It is alleged that 3 or 4 MDGA Excom members do not in fact qualify as ‘resident members’ in terms of the MDGA constitution and accordingly do not qualify to serve on Excom.

Nominees are required to sign a nomination form stating “I…confirm that I am a resident member of the Association…”.

This state of affairs raises a few questions:-
Q1:  Are people serving on Excom under false pretence?  Who are they?  Dishonest people should not be allowed to hold a position of office.
Q2:  Wasn’t the “resident member” status of Excom nominees vetted against the member register?  This should surely be done as a matter of course.
Q3:  Are the other members of the Excom aware of the situation?  If not, why not?  What does this say about the other checks & controls?  Where is the “auditor”???
Q4:  If the Excom is aware of the situation why has this state of affairs not been disclosed and, more importantly, rectified?  What does this say about the integrity of the Excom?  Are we to conclude that all Excom members are dishonest?  These people claim to be the chosen voice of the (Marina) people – and what they do and say reflects on the entire community.  It goes without saying that they should be honest.

ONE property = ONE member.  Member = property owner OR spouse.  If resident, member may serve on Excom.  That’s it.

Have you noticed that the Palm Trees along Prince George Drive are disappearing one by one? This strange phenomenon only seems to effect the strong, healthy trees, while the sad, windblown ones are left to die a slow death.

Most interestingly, it also seems as if these trees are finding a new home along the highway coming towards Strand Street in Cape Town.
Recently, a Marina Da Gama resident noticed Council-workers carefully remove the Palm Trees along Price George Drive.

Could it be that the City is looting our Palm Trees to decorate the City and if this is indeed so, why is our Councillor not putting an end to it? With big fanfare it was announced that the circle at Prince George Drive was going to be beautified, but this will not help if the rest of the road looks like the back of a bus. It is unacceptable that the already neglected Deep South is being plundered in order to beautify the City. I know that 2010 is looming, but there will be visitors to this neck of the woods too. Should we just sit back and allow this to happen?

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?

Now about the MDGA.

To put this now in a nutshell is as follows.

According to what I see here is that the MDGA is legal but the constitution is ilegal. The choice is now do you scrap the constition and put a new one in place as you can not have a Association without a constitution.

The old one has power to dictate. It clearly says that your house must be white;your verges to be neatened and your wall to be 2.1m in height and be visible pleasant to the eye. No scrap to be in front of your house like broken rusted trailers and cars.If any of these rules are broken you get a letter of demand. You might land up in court. You are also forced to be a member at R170 a year.

The new one which be in place will be voluntary. Will have no power over you. You can paint your house any colour – in my case I like purple. Do not need aproval from the commitee to put up my double garage made of zink plate as council do approve it – harsh financial times these days. My grass can grow to the lengh I want and my vehicle that was written off and rusting away can park in fron of my house. You will save a whole R170 a year and the area will then really become a special area. Can you imagine the rainbow colour houses we will have instead of that bright white.

I think we should vote on the new constitution. It sounds very democratic and open minded. I do not say this in a sarcastic manner because I feel strongly to the freedom of choice. Why should I be dictated by a few who has no real interest in my needs. That little clause I have will also have no meaning to me.

If this what the people want then it should be done and put in place. The members should have the right to freedom of choice.

If admin will allow it I would like to have a new forum opened up on this website. It will display both sides of the story and open it up for discussion.

It would appear as if Hunting Season is open in San Marina.  In a bold statement, the Chairman of the San Marina Recreational Club, Mr. Leon Lee,  has stated “… 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.” after being criticized by an elderly local resident.

In a unprecedented barrage of comments on this website (see San Marina residents take a stand), members of the community have both slated and hailed Mr. Lee’s bold stance.  Some have even likened Mr. to the controversial  ANC Youth League President, Mr. Julius Malema, who recently made a similar statement against anybody opposing ANC president, Jacob Zuma,  while others have cried out ” Viva Leon Viva”.

Is the Club as unpopular as Cathy Suggests? Have your own say.