Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe to receive a Cash Donation intended for Haiti

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Sue Van der Merwe, will on Friday, 13 August 2010, receive a cheque of R40 000 from Cape Town’s Fishhoek Primary School intended as part of the relief and reconstruction programme for Haiti which suffered a devastating earthquake earlier this year. Deputy Minister Van der Merwe leads the South African government effort in coordinating search and rescue, relief and reconstruction support programmes to Haiti.

Fishhook Primary is the first school to undertake such an initiative as it has been largely private, public sector companies and civil society institutions such as Rescue SA and Gift of the Givers who have joined forces with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in making a contribution to the Haitian effort following the havoc wreaked by a catastrophic earthquake that left thousands of people dead and millions injured and homeless.

Seeing images of devastation beamed on television stations across the world, the school management not only felt the pain of the Haitians, but decided to do something to help. They embarked on a fundraising campaign that included school children, their parents and the surrounding communities. Their effort paid off by raising R40 000 which they are ready to hand over to Haiti through DIRCO. “The management, teachers and learners at the school are extremely elated that they have met the target they set for themselves,” said Mr G Williams, the school’s principal.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation appreciates a sense of humanity shown by the school, the values of selflessness and universal ubuntu instilled in the young learners, the spirit of internationalism encouraged among the young learners and also calls upon those who wish to emulate the likes of Fishhook Primary in helping the Haitians not to be hesitant to contact Office of the Minister, DIRCO.

For further information please contact Chief Director for Public Diplomacy on +27 82 940 1647, +27 12 351 0083 or email him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg
Rietondale
0001

12 August 2010