According to the Daily Voice, comedian Soli Philander was locked up for trying to save a girl from an alleged paedophile. Philander was arrested on Saturday morning for violating a peace order after he moeredthe director of the Marion Institute, Peter Agulhas.
[Soli Philander’s Response] The Community of Springfield Terrace, on being informed that The Marion Institute, bequethed to the women and children of District Six, would not allow volunteers to prepare and serve food from the centre, for those in need, in this time of Corona Lockdown, decided that they would confront the situation, by removing those occupying it from the premises.
There have been numerous attempts by the Community to access The Marion for a.o. Community Forum Meetings, Neighbourhood Watch Meetings, Community Events, Community Participation in the decision-making processes around The Marion – in essence, the relationship between The Marion and the Community is best communicated by the more than 138 cases that have been opened against various members of the Community, the numerous entities and individuals scheduled to appear in the High Court laying claim to The Marion, and the fact that there is no existing relationship between The Marion and the Community.
It has resulted in the Community being characterized as ignorant, murderous and corrupt and not having any claim to The Marion. In the last five years there has been one, impactful community event at The Marion that brought the whole Community together in and around the premises – A June 16 Youth Day event at the Centre organized by Community Member Razaan Donaldson and myself (Let me just remind my ‘voos-geklap’ community how beautifully we came together.
Remember how we made the late Auntie Carol queen of the Carnival? In her big, South African flag, sequined dress? Auntie Carol was poisoned against me. Auntie Carol would accuse me of theft. Auntie Carol, who loved The Marion as if it was family – Auntie Carol would end up fighting not for The Marion, but for those dragging this once-proud institution to the grave. Auntie Carol herself went to her grave not liking me very much. I miss Auntie Carol’s booming voice demanding an explanation, demanding to know what’s going on, and I’m bloody sure, demanding access for the community to HER Marion).
There has been much savage, raw, scarring battling around the existence of The Marion for a while now, but as an undeniable fact stands the deep love for the place invested in those that have crossed her threshold. But there’s a darker side to her recent history. Tales of murder and blood, evil and filth, a disregard for humanity and a wallowing in the shallows of sin, that demands the cessation of her existence, an eradication of vile excess, and a replacement of what was once a Beacon Of Hope for this community.
In the realm of NGOs and NPOs the next logical step for The Marion is to close and be sold. To be no more.
Sound far-fetched?
On the other side of The Terrace stands a property (‘wakkaf grond’ – you want this explained, but in simple terms it means ‘gifted to’) that the Community cleaned up and brought to tip-top shape, which ended up being sold off and now nobody from the District is allowed on that property that was gifted to them – Rachmania.
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