The board on Thursday released a statement of "grave importance" stating that "in spite of being repeatedly informed that it would be an illegitimate and unconstitutional action, the current secretary general of South African Red Cross [Sarcs], Ms Gerry Elsdon, convened an unsanctioned gathering of some Red Cross members."
According to the statement, businessperson and media personality Elsdon (née Williams) – who shot to fame in the 1990s as a presenter on M-Net and MC for high-profile events in South Africa – convened a meeting on April 6 that was not attended by the majority of Sarcs members as well as the governing board.
"This meeting declared itself an assembly and passed a vote of no confidence in the existing, legitimately elected governing board. They then chose a so-called 'interim governing board' with an 'interim president'," the statement read.
"The 'interim governing board' and the 'interim president' are entirely illegitimate."
The organisation, known for empowering communities in times of natural or man-made disasters, stated that "Elsdon is already the subject of existing disciplinary procedures, and in light of her present actions the board has taken the decision to bring further disciplinary charges against her … Elsdon has also been suspended with immediate effect".
The meeting convened by Eldson was, according to Sarcs, in direct violation of an agreement reached between the International Red Cross, the Federation and the governing board.
"In terms of this agreement disciplinary proceedings were suspended, and Ms Elsdon was to have remained in her post until a properly constituted general assembly was convened in August 2013," read the statement.