Tzu Chi Winter Relief at Newcastle hosted
by Welfare Department Chief
Newcastle
(Translated by Stephen Tang, Northern California)
July is the coldest month in South Africa.
The temperature is low and the wind is freezing. Many poor natives
suffering from hunger and cold struggle to survive. Following
Master Cheng Yen's instruction of "Great mercy even to
strangers and great compassion for all," Tzu Chi members
at Newcastle enthusiastically ran the winter relief campaign.
About 600,000 black South Africans are scattered
around Madadeni, Osizweni and Blaauboshi villages at the outskirts
of Newcastle. Among them, Blaauboshi suffers the worst living
conditions. Following Mayor Dlamini's proposal to take care
of this village first, Tzu Chi members invited five legislative
members-Mr. Bheki, Mr. Zwane, Mr. Mazibuko, Mrs. Dube, and Ms.
Buthelezi-to select two hundred of the most needy families in
each of their own districts. After confirmation from tribe chiefs,
each one of these one thousand families was given ten kilograms
of corn flour, 2.5 kilograms of sugar, two liters of oil, and
one kilogram of beans.
At 8:30 AM on July 15, thirty-six volunteers
gathered in front of a factory owned by Brother Tang Chin-sheng.
They were joined by thirty-eight Tzu Chi members from Johannesburg,
Bloemfontein and Ladysmith, led by Brother Shih Hung-chi of
the South Africa Tzu Chi office. This made the team bigger and
the distribution faster.
Prince Zulu, chief of the KwaZulu Natal provincial
welfare department, flew in by helicopter from the provincial
capital, Ulundi, to preside over the distribution ceremony.
He repeatedly praised the loving and giving attitude of the
Tzu Chi volunteers. He thought they set good role models for
the current social situation in South Africa. During a visit
to Taiwan years ago, he was tremendously surprised and impressed
by the diligence of the Taiwanese people and their high utilization
of land. He said, "The Taiwanese people are good examples
for Zulus to learn from."
Guided by Tzu Chi Youth, the distribution
process was very smooth and orderly. Prince Zulu himself prepared
meals to show his gratitude to the volunteers. The distribution
concluded in the afternoon as the local people lined the streets
and waved their thanks, chanting "Amitabha" to bid
farewell to the Tzu Chi members.
