By Darul Ihsan Humanitarian Centre
LETTER - At a recent portfolio committee meeting of the Department of Social Development, officials where rebuked by all political parties for their failure to deliver much-needed food parcels (for which the department forked out R25million) to the needy during the lockdown.
In essence, the department should have distributed food parcels to 176 000 families, but only delivered 1 025 parcels in two months.
Impoverished communities across South Africa benefited from the generous contributions of people of all walks of life – efficiently effected through the tireless efforts of non-profit organisations, public benefit organisations and civil society –in response to the economic challenges faced by millions of South Africans due to the lockdown.
Often these organisations persevere against great odds and are in need of resources in difficult economic times.
Yet there is no shortage of volunteers.
Thousands of volunteers contribute by selflessly giving their time – even on weekends – through well-co-ordinated organisations with genuine concern and compassion for those affected within their and other communities.
Indeed, many organisations have rosters of community volunteers who are on tap at the drop of a hat and make themselves available to serve mankind for no reward, except for the sense of Ubuntu embedded in their hearts.
The nature of corruption, inefficiencies and failure of service delivery in our country – particularly in this time of the pandemic – is unacceptable and a pervasive pattern threatening to become a habit.
Public servants – across the entire spectrum of government – have forgotten what they are.
Daily News