A charity golf day held at Centurion raised R280 000 towards relief of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in December, the Department of Health said on Monday.
Sunday’s event was organised by the Association of South-East Asian Nations and heads of the diplomatic missions to South Africa.
It was supported by the departments of foreign affairs and health.
”Proceeds went to the Red Cross South Africa to provide relief for survivors of the tsunami through rehabilitation programmes,” read a statement.
Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in an address at the event that the South African NGO the Gift of the Givers returned from a mission to tsunami victims in Somalia at the weekend.
”The emphasis on Somalia should be seen in the light of the country’s present political and conflict situation where it is difficult to obtain accurate information due to a lack of capacity for assessment and response,” she said.
The Gift of the Givers encountered an obstacle when Ethiopia was at first reluctant to allow aircraft carrying the NGO’s supplies and personnel to fly in its air space. — Sapa