Dear Members of the Public and DearSAfrica Community,
It is with deep regret and disappointment that we inform you that Mr. Rob Hutchinson, a former director of DearSAfrica NPC, was removed from his position and dismissed as an employee in February 2023. This decision was not made lightly and followed a thorough investigation and disciplinary hearing chaired by an independent advocate. Mr. Hutchinson attempted to challenge his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), but his complaint was not upheld.
Similar allegations of financial misconduct and unlawful trademark adjustments led to his removal by the previous directors of DearSA in 2021. He was legally advised to return the trademarks, and his connection with DearSA was permanently terminated.
In the wake of these events, it has come to our attention that Mr. Hutchinson is allegedly acting on behalf of DearSA and has created a parallel public participation platform using the old website link https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/. We wish to clarify that he is in no way associated with DearSAfrica NPC. Any communication or action taken by him under the name DearSA should be considered unauthorised and potentially fraudulent.
Further, it has been reported that Mr. Hutchinson is soliciting donations under the guise of supporting DearSA, asking individuals not to support the organisation via debit orders, but to donate directly into his personal bank account. We strongly urge the public not to comply with such requests, as they amount to fraud.
DearSAfrica NPC has not changed its banking details since opening its account.
The listed “DearWorks” account name on the parallel platform is an entirely different account. DearWorks is a for-profit company registered on CIPC with Mr. Hutchinson listed as its sole director. Under South African legislation, a non-profit company must include a board structure of three unconnected directors. DearSAfrica NPC is fully compliant with this requirement and annually audits its financial statements.
Mr. Hutchinson also refused to return access to web infrastructure. DearSA cannot commit to any POPIA compliance or liability on the old website. We, therefore, strongly implore you not to submit your personal information on https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/, as it is not protected under our privacy policy.
We urge our members and the public to be cautious when making donations and to ensure that the correct bank account details are used:
DearSAfrica NPC - 2021/371919/08
FNB
Cheque Account
Account number: 62885488257
Branch code: 210636
DearSA relies on the monthly donations of members; if you are unsure at any point about your membership, please reach out to [email protected] for clarification. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
While we regret the necessity of this public statement, we believe in transparency and the right of our community and the public to be aware of these circumstances. We encourage all of you to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities associated with DearSA or Mr. Hutchinson to the relevant authorities.
Please be assured that the intellectual property and logos of DearSAfrica NPC are registered in the company's name, and we are taking all the necessary legal steps to protect our name and reputation.
We remain committed to our mission and to the trust you have placed in us. Together, we can overcome this challenge and continue to drive the change we want to see in our country.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors,
DearSAfrica NPC
