During a First Aid Training course in Ladysmith, it was brought to the attention of the SA Red Cross Society that a family of two, a brother and a sister, were unemployed and had to eat cow dung wrapped in leaves to have food in their stomachs.

Before we embarked on finding the family located in the mountainous Rookdale area, with the majestic Drakensberg behind and a vast expanse of water in front, we disseminated on the principles of the International Red Cross Movement and collected food and clothing from the Newcastle branch.

After much traipsing through valleys and hills we met with the brother Vusi Cebekhulu, who is living in a holey mud house surrounded only by natural resources. At first he was skeptical of our presence but was most delighted to learn that they would receive clothing and the food parcels.

To date SARCS Newcastle Branch continues to administer parcels to the family and assist with social development issues.

Ann Welgemoed
Chairperson
Newcastle Branch

Tel: 27 31-337-6522
Fax: 27 31-337-3033
Email: kzn@redcross.org.za

First Floor, Mangrove Beach Centre, North Beach, Durban 4001
PO Box 1680, Durban, 4000