Divisions within the SA Red Cross Society have negatively affected services meant for the poor in KwaZulu-Natal. City Press reports that the effect of the fracas between two factions, one led by Nqe Dlamini and the other by advocate Mothibedi Panyane, allegedly resulted in volunteers losing their jobs because of a lack of funding from donors.
Panyane formerly deputised for Dlamini, who was the Red Cross president before the trouble started last year. Dlamini said Panyane resigned in 2015 because he was unhappy with the salary paid to the then chief executive Derick Naidoo. But Panyane has denied this, saying he was an ordinary board member when he resigned to resume his duties as the chair of the Gauteng provincial council at the behest of the Gauteng branch members.
Dlamini said they had tried to involve the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to resolve the impasse but their calls had fallen deaf ears. Dr Michael Charles, now head of the Southern Africa cluster, said its role was to guide and support the development of its members’ national societies and to help them improve and expand their humanitarian influence. “This is our focus in South Africa where the Red Cross is a key pillar in the country’s health and welfare network.
[link url="https://city-press.news24.com/News/red-cross-fracas-hits-hivaids-patients-20190928"]City Press report[/link]