CWD: MY DEPARTURE FROM CATHOLIC WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2014 REALITY HAS SET IN… I am no longer the Director of CWD, after a brief period of 17 months. I started with CWD on the 15th April 2013 and quickly got busy with turning the organisation around, as soon as I became aware of the misuse of donor funds and the neglect and injury inflicted upon the staff and its especially beneficiaries, the poor and vulnerable persons of the Western Cape. Since taking up the role of Directorship in leading this great organisation, I took a personal oath to be ethical, transparent, authentic, sincere and honest in all my interactions with all stakeholders, including the staff of CWD, the Board and the Archbishop, whom I reported to. So I went about my task, for the past 17 months, working most days 12 to 15 hrs, weeding out the areas of financial and organisational mismanagement, putting in place new procedures and controls, and re-inspiring staff, donors, partners and friends of CWD to continue to support our great work. In the middle of last year, I even had to give up my post graduate studies which I personally funded, an Executive MBA at UCT Graduate School of Business, as I needed to decide whether to continue my quest of turning the organisation around or continuing with my studies. I chose CWD over my EMBA studies. Over the past year I have expanded the support network both to the organisation and to other organisations in the aid we provided to them, as I diligently went around meeting with individuals, partner organisations, parishes and donors who were previously injured by the mismanagement. Alongside that I rebuilt capacity within my staff, as I managed six (6) different executive portfolios over the past year, due to the exit of certain staff. Keeping true to my personal oath, I continued to speak up against injustice and to have open and transparent dialogue with my donors and staff. Sadly, on 15 September 2014, I was removed from office and discharged from responsibilities as Director of CWD, after a case of constructive dismissal in which I continuously appealed to the Board of CWD and the Archbishop, to bring justice to the situation at the organisation and fully support me as Director. However, as I continued to be truthful and transparent with staff and donors, I was asked instead to leave CWD immediately by the Board, “in the best interests of the organisation and myself”. I will be taking a few months off before seeking new employment to discern what God is asking next of me in this situation, which is indeed a great injustice within the church. I however wish to thank everyone that supported me and the organisation, in the very difficult work, which I undertook over the past year to bring CWD back to its original purpose and social impact. Your financial contribution or otherwise, has assisted many poor persons greatly. My final reflection is: While my faith through this situation has been rigorously tested, I need to find the inner strength to continue in faith, doing this much needed development work with the poor elsewhere.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:23:40 +0000
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