Stating the case
CRIMINALcharges were withdrawn against Sulyman Stellenboom because the University of Cape Town agreed to accept his written apology for stealing a building sign from UCT and his undertaking that he would not repeat this criminal action.
The report in Cape Times (“RMF activist’s charges dropped”, July 24, states that the charges were withdrawn because of wrongdoing on the university’s side. This is wholly incorrect. Before writing this article, the journalist had received a copy of the informal mediation agreement that was signed by Mr Stellenboom and UCT.
There was no “act of bad faith” on the part of vice-chancellor Dr Max Price. He was acting in the interests of the public institution in asking that Mr Stellenboom accept responsibility for damage he caused to UCT property. Mr Stellenboom admitted to the crime and the university therefore withdrew the charges. Patricia Lucas A FRONT-PAGE Cape Times article stated on July 24 that I had said that “an act of bad faith by UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price resulted in a criminal case against a Rhodes Must Fall activist being withdrawn”. The article states further that I said that “by making the third condition, Price was in fact acting in bad faith”.
I wish to state categorically that I had never said that Dr Max Price acted in bad faith. Neither did I say that an act of bad faith by Dr Price resulted in charges against my client being withdrawn.
Charges against my client were withdrawn as a result of a voluntary mediation process and after I made written representations to the Senior Public Prosecutor to have the charges withdrawn, after I identified certain weaknesses in the State’s case.
In court, I mentioned to the magistrate that “It seems that the strong message that this court had relayed to UCT had its desired effect”. Magistrate Wezile Rexana responded that he was glad to hear that the court’s pleas had not fallen on deaf ears.
During a previous court appearance, the court expressed displeasure at UCT and stated that the parties should negotiate in good faith. At no point did I state that the UCT vice-chancellor acted in bad faith. Peter Williams a treadmill or bicycle is used and the load is a generator, and the person pedalling adds power to the system.
Recently, I bought a derelict “His Master’s Voice” gramophone and restored it to full working order. Our grandparents, if they wanted to listen to music, had to either go to a concert or buy a gramophone and some 78 RPM records. The system is entirely mechanical with zero electrical components.
The principle is exactly the same for “Pedal Power”; if you want to watch TV, you should pedal especially if you happen to be a beneficiary of the government’s social plans and it will be a very good “keep fit” feature.
It should be a matter of honour: I receive, I give back and save electricity which otherwise I may be inclined to steal.
It should be simple to cut off electricity and supply DC-AC converters built into bikes that during the day could serve as transporters. Ben Smit Festival in the UK in August.
Our own G&S Society is one of our city’s greatest cultural assets. Neil Veitch