Concerns have been raised over Elsies River Community Policing Forum (CPF) member and People’s Movement for Change (PMC) member, Claudine Coleridge, seen photographed with the son of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen at Jet Lounge.
In response, Coleridge told the Cape Argus the photograph was taken at Booysen’s establishment during a film production in 2022, and that she had taken various photographs with crew and cast members on the said day.
This is the second occasion in which questions have publicly arisen about Coleridge being photographed with alleged gang affiliates.
In 2021, she made headlines in the Daily Voice when she was seen standing next to members of the Terrible Josters gang while she was a member of the Cape Coloured Congress (CCC).
At the time, CCC leadership said Coleridge fed hundreds in the community and that she had posed for her safety.
“In Leonsdale I was the ward candidate for the then CCC, that pic of myself and the Terrible leader was sent by someone in the DA and that person was used by the councillor,” said Coleridge yesterday in response to the image relating to the Terrible Josters.
“I had a sports day on 16 June 2021 and the entire community participated in that day and my aim was just that.
“Bringing a gang infested area together even if it was just for that day and it worked.
“Fun was had and we had a winning soccer team for the day. Those gang members are part of ward 26 and part of the community and I don't discriminate.
“That same guy fed some of the community members for the day even though I catered for the day.”
In response to the latest photograph, she said: “Booysen and I acted together in a movie (name withheld) He was part of the cast.”
PMC said they could not comment on the images as Coleridge was not with the party at the time.
"The People’s Movement for Change is a newly established organisation, and Ms Coleridge became involved with us only a few months ago.
"For this reason, PMC cannot comment on the context or circumstances surrounding the claims made in the article,” they said.
The issue has since escalated to police oversight in the province, who has asked for the CPF Board to review it.
Kurt Nefdt, acting media liaison officer to Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais, said: “Minister Anroux Marais notes with concern reports of an Elsies River CPF member posing in pictures with alleged gang members. She will refer the matter to the Provincial CPF Board for investigation and request feedback on the outcome."
Whistle-blower and anti-crime activist, Zona Morton, said CPF members had to be mindful of who they associate themselves with socially and had to be vetted properly.
"When these photographs were brought to my attention, I was alarmed to hear that the lady in the photograph is an exco member of the Elsies River CPF, irrespective of what we do in our personal lives, we have to be mindful especially when we occupy public positions because we are always placed under the scrutiny by the community.
“My biggest concern was that it reminded me of what Judge Daniel Thulare said in one of his judgments, of how the gangsters go about infiltrating community police forums, the office of the provincial police commissioner in order to extort information for their own benefit.
“Seeing that Elsies River is a hotspot at the moment in terms of gang violence, it is very dangerous not to vet a CPF member properly in all aspects.
“I also do not think it is appropriate for someone on the CPF to also hold a political position.”
Cape Argus