JUST in case any of the ‘kung-poo fighters’ out there are searching Umdoni to take revenge on ‘hurtful monuments that are a bitter reminder of our colonialist or apartheid past’, please don’t consider the clock in the centre of Scottburgh.
To nip any poo-type protest in the butt, the clock was installed as a kind and honest gesture by local members of the most influential service organisation in the world.
Rotary International (100 years old) is proudly colour-blind, non-sexist, apolitical, God-fearing, but tolerant of all beliefs or non-beliefs.
One of Rotary’s main global success stories is that it has helped to eradicate polio from the entire planet.
But what we should be concentrating on in South Africa is the excellent work done by a few, selfless individuals in their local communities – members of the Rotary Club of Scottburgh being among them.
Apart from constantly dipping into their own pockets (retirement funds in many cases), they raise money locally and from international benefactors (eg Bill Gates) to better the lives of ‘others less fortunate than ourselves’.
A giant, country-wide initiative is to organise health days in remote rural areas where they are sorely needed. This in partnership with many other care-givers, sponsors and the Department of Health. It costs millions.
This giant annual exercise takes place over three days in October this year. The Mail and its entire mother company, Caxton, are proud to be the main media partners.
The only downside is that the vast majority of South African Rotarians are white or Indian. (Last year, volunteers at one clinic were questioned because they were white and wearing blue T-shirts. They were accused of being DA supporters.)
Granted, this is a bit of a hangover from our apartheid past, but surely this should not stand in the way of the broader community from doing their bit as well?
Without more, active support from the broader community, organisations like Rotary will merely fade away. Stalwarts are already starting to question why they should continue.
Others are talking about refocusing their generosity on needy people ‘closer to home’. The moral of the story? Not all carry overs from colonialism are bad… and beware the ‘back splash’.
