On Monday 28 February 2005 Former President FW de Klerk, his wife Elita and members of the staff of the FW de Klerk Foundation, visited SARCS’s National Office to hand over a cheque for R31,700 for the tsunami relief fund.

On presenting the cheque, Mr de Klerk related the colourful story of how this donation came about. On New Year’s Eve he and his wife Elita were entertaining their friends. Being Greek, Mrs de Klerk, prepared a dessert for the guests according to a Greek custom where a coin is placed in the dessert, the idea being that whoever finds the coin would receive good luck. Mr de Klerk decided on a Kruger Rand, but as ‘luck’ would have it, none of the guests found the coin when enjoying their dessert.

One of the guests then suggested an American auction for the victims of the tsunami disaster, whereby even if you don’t win, you have to donate the amount you bid. In a short space of time R31,700 was collected!

Mr de Klerk commended the SA Red Cross on its excellent work and stated that he believed this ‘small amount’ was safe in SARCS’s hands.

The Secretary General gave Mr and Mrs de Klerk an insight on the pressures and challenges of dealing with the effects of the tsunami disaster here in South Africa. He focussed on the overwhelming generosity of the South African public. He thanked Mr de Klerk for the generous gesture and introduced him to the National Office and Western Cape provincial office staff. The de Klerk couple posed happily for photographs, also for group photos with all the staff before taking their leave.

E Neethling