The Star Early Edition

Staff at ‘charity’ seen taking donated stuff

- MUHAMMAD OMAR CREENA BARNES

TO THOSE that studied or have a faint memory of Latin or generally in some older criminal movie that had a scene were a group of people who were walking to the gallows and the priest was reading a Latin sermon.

As for those that did Latin, (Afrikaans is a breeze compared with Latin) the declension­s were a nightmare.

Ambulo, ambulas, ambulat – to walk, or the one everyone learns the first day amo, amas, amat – to love.

Latin had such an influence that the late Martin Thembisile Hani majored in Latin and English. Latin was chosen after listening to the Catholic sermons in his hometown of Cofimvaba. Martin was destined for priesthood until his father persuaded him otherwise. At high school, he was double promoted in a single year.

Martin Thembisile Hani is the famous Chris Hani we all know today.

As for allegation­s of corruption in South Africa, we have seen it all. The famous Citizen newspaper, Sol Kerzner and Matanzima, the Schaik trial, the Guptas, the Madonsela reports, and now the Zondo Commission. And to be continued.

As for bribery, this is as old as Latin times. To pass an exam you had to translate a text from Latin to English and vice versa.

So I guess if Latin was a subject today, a useful text for South African students would be.

“Slaves were bribed to turn against their masters, and freedmen to betray their patrons, and those who had not an enemy were destroyed by their friends”.

Now in Latin, corrupti in dominos servi, in patronos liberti, et quibus deerat inimicus per amicos oppressi.

This may sound like a good summary for the commission.

As for the Zondo Commission, it seems one aggrieved Mr Agrizzi (pronounced Agritzee) who explains how having lots of grit (sorry Robin Sharma) in probably greasing a lot of officials and now suddenly aggrieved after been shown the door.

What I find strange is when the goings were good he had no issues and now wakes up one morning and spills the beans. With friends like this, who needs enemies.

And as for Latin, maybe there will be a new declension going forward thanks to Mzansi, agrease, agrizzi, aggrieved. I bribe, you bribe, he, she it bribes.

Have a nice day. Durban North A FULL investigat­ion is encouraged as to how so-called “charities” (registered NPOs) are using funds and goods donated.

The question one needs to ask is: Are the people these “charities” supposedly help / feed, in actual fact, benefiting from the funds, goods and perishable / non-perishable foods donated?

At one “charity” (a registered NPO), in a suburb close to the Johannesbu­rg CBD, salaried staff take home carrier-bags full of donated perishable and non-perishable foods, clothing and other goods whenever they are donated.

At this same “charity”, the poor and hungry people, should they arrive a little late for the soup kitchen, are often turned away without so much as a crust of bread.

Often, should the person linger or plead, he / she is chased away with harsh words and sometimes even sworn at.

This is really not the way to treat hungry and poor people – it is utterly shameful to treat these people in this way, especially as the “charity” receives vast quantities of donated perishable and non-perishable foods.

It is very obvious that the only ones to benefit from the donations are the manager and his salaried staff.

What kind of people steal food from the poor in the name of “charity”?

These “charities”, run by corrupt managers, are making it bad for the charities that really do care about and assist the poor.

These managers should be fired and replaced with people who understand the word “charity”, if not, the charity should be shut down!

Companies, schools and individual­s should be made aware, that in many cases, their donations are not reaching the poor and hungry people at all!

Thank you. Observator­y, Johannesbu­rg By Stephen Francis & Rico

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