Fidler in the ‘Hood: The fabulous and the frustrating
It has not been easy this year: Ex Pro has not been able to hold its usual fund-raising luncheons and popular events, due the pandemic.
We start with a feel-good factor. Johnny Louch phoned the other day.
“Rob, we cracked it! Team Ex Pro achieved its target and help raise money to buy 4000 Christmas toys for children. It has not been easy this year: Ex Pro has not been able to hold its usual fund-raising luncheons and popular events, due the pandemic. We have had to canvas ‘the hard way’ with personal pleas and approaches. But business and local people have ‘come to the table’, helping to raise more than R200 000 in six short weeks. It’s not been easy, but business and people have given their time and money to help the children.
“I drove up to Avoca, north of Durban, the other day to help hand out the toys to those children. The delight on the children’s faces was quite moving, when they received their Christmas toys and gifts. I have never felt so pleased and happy, yet humbled. The nursery school, which has just the basic facilities, is teaching the children, who have literally nothing, that they are not forgotten, and loved.”
Team Expo, in association with Rotary International, has helped raise some R3-million over the years.
Patience Is Not A Virtue
Johnny’s heart-warming story, once more throws into perspective that there is still much goodwill going around amongst the peoples of South Africa, despite our civil service administrators doing their darndest to make life difficult as possible.
Our former domestic worker has made 10 visits to the Ministry of Labour’s Port Shepstone offices in an effort to claim her due unemployment benefits.
Forms completed three times over, in duplicate; our assisting by writing to previous employers in Germany to obtain further information, has resulted in nothing but a nightmare for our friend.
Pass-the-buck obstacles have been placed every step of the way, the latest excuse being that ‘they’ cannot find her details and information on the ‘computer system’, instructing the applicant to ‘start again’. This is after seven months of travelling considerable distance to the Labour offices, queueing in all weathers, and yet to receive her due benefits.
The tragedy is that ‘no one cares’.
We are all aware of the latest slogans that ‘people matter most’, well, something to that effect.
Somehow the cry seems to have fallen on deaf ears at the Sheppie Labour Department.
The latest Christmas party game is not pass the parcel, but pass the buck.
No one takes responsibility; no initiative; a case of “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!”
(Who said that? — again), being the attitude of our so-called public servants. Maybe the monies rightfully due to our desperate friends has “Gone With The Wind”. Or should that be “Cry, The Beloved Country”?
See you, Rob.
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