Help refugees and asylum seekers to make contact with their families or simply to adjust to life in South Africa.
Who We Are
The South African Red Cross Society is part of the world's largest humanitarian Movement. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian network. The Movement is neutral and impartial, and provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts.
The Movement is made up of almost 97 million volunteers, supporters, and staff in 186 countries. It has three main components:
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As partners, the different members of the Movement support communities in becoming stronger and safer through a variety of development projects and humanitarian activities. The Movement also works in cooperation with governments, donors and other aid organizations to assist vulnerable people around the world.
Our Governance more...
- Mr Nqe Dlamini (President)
- Advocate Mothibedi Panyane (Vice President)
- Mr Olebogeng Themba (National Treasurer)
- Mr Molefi Michael Mohapi (Governing Board Member)
- Mrs Princess Nkosazana Sekulisa (Governing Board Member)
- Mr Andre Botha (Governing Board Member)
- Mr Isaiah Modisha (Governing Board Member)
- Ms Jennifer Martin (Governing Board Member)
- Acting Secretary General: Winnie Ndebele
What we do
Our mission is to alleviate human suffering (whenever and wherever it may be found), and restore human dignity in communities that we serve. The work that The Red Cross does is guided and informed by the 7 Fundamental Principles. These are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.
The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
The International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross was formed in 1863 and is the founding body of the movement. Under the terms of the Geneva Conventions, it undertakes the role of neutral intermediary in times of armed conflict, providing protection and assistance to victims, visiting detainees, providing medical care to the sick and wounded, and tracing and reuniting separated families.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded in 1919 in Paris in the aftermath of World War I. Originally known as the League of Red Cross Societies it was renamed in October 1983 as the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In November 1991 it became the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The South African Red Cross Society is one of the 186 members of the Federation and responds to need in each state and territory and provides relief during major disasters and emergencies in Australian and in other countries.
The Federation supports humanitarian activities by Red Cross in each country, including providing emergency relief for natural disasters, the development of new social welfare initiatives, caring for refugees or simply caring for the vulnerable in society.
The South African Red Cross Society and Legal Protection of Certain Emblems Act, No. 10 of 2007
In August 2007, the South African government signed The South African Red Cross Society and Legal Protection of Certain Emblems Act (“the Act”) into law. The Act gives statutory recognition to the South African Red Cross Society as the national Red Cross Society of the Republic of South Africa, as well as recognising its objects and functions.
Over the years The South African Red Cross Society has worked closely with the Department of Health on various programmes, disasters and emergencies. Section 8 of the Act facilitates co-operation between Government, in the person of the Minister of Health, and the Red Cross Society. Section 8 goes on to state that the Minister must ensure strict compliance with the Geneva Conventions regarding the use of the Red Cross Emblem and the Red Crescent Emblem.
The Act also requires the Minister to take appropriate steps to prevent any misuse of the Red Crescent or Red Cross, in particular by disseminating the prescriptions as widely as possible among organs of state and the general public. Likewise, the Society must co-operate with the Minister of Health and Minister of Defence in the performance of their functions and must inform the respective ministers of any misuse of the Red Crescent or Red Cross Emblem which may come to its knowledge. As such, whenever necessary or whenever requested by the relevant minister, the South African Red Cross Society must assist in criminal, civil or administrative proceedings relating to the use or misuse of an emblem.
Anyone making unauthorised use of the Red Cross or Red Crescent Emblem, or an imitation thereof, is guilty of an offence, unless one of the grounds in section 9(1) of the Act is found to be applicable. If someone is found guilty of an offence, a fine and/or a maximum prison sentence of five years may be handed down.
