The MOTH was established in 1927. No Organisation has ever survived that long and especially if it is managed by ‘idiots’, who have no clue what they are doing, break all their own rules, and specifically, don’t keep their membership informed. Though the M.O.T.H. does not claim to be perfect in every regard, a lot of effort and care is taken to function within the limits of the M.O.T.H General Standing Orders (GSO’s), and primarily South African Law.
In the course of this management process, the M.O.T.H GSOs are amended by a democratic process, and if needs be, on a regular basis, to assist the Order whilst transitioning into the future. To this end, a relevant and important amendment was passed in November 2020 regarding the structure of the Full National Executive. The Full National Executive (FNE) now consists of seven members directly elected and voted for by the respective provinces for a three-year term, as well as three further Members being annually appointed by M.O.T.H General Headquarters (GHQ); they are, the National Treasurer, the Chairman Property Management Committee (PMC), and the Chairman M.O.T.H. Memorials and Museums (MM&M). To put GHQ into context, it is made up of the six Provincial Dugouts. GHQ maintains correspondence with the provinces via lines of communication through the General Secretary, who accounts to the FNE.
For the purpose of this communication, the focus will be on the M.O.T.H. Memorials and Museums (MM&M) and co-opted sub-committee abbreviated (MM&MC). After being appointed by GHQ, the respective Chairmen of the various portfolios may form and co-opt a committee to assist with his management, inputs, and guidance for that respective portfolio. To this end the MM&M portfolio is also made up of a co-opted committee under the appointed Chairman, which determines best practice and way forward within the composition of the M.O.T.H GSO’s, and within the parameters of South African Common, Regulated, and Statutory Law.
The portfolio of the MM&M Chairman encompasses the management function of the Warriors Gate Museum of Militaria in Durban (Flagship and Shrine of the Order), the ‘Weeping Cross’ (Delville Wood Cross, only the Relic, not the actual gardens or site) in Pietermaritzburg, and the M.O.T.H National Wall of Remembrance sited at Mount Memory in the Drakensberg, KZN. The sub-committee co-opted through this portfolio, further advises and assists in ensuring alignment regarding all artefacts, relics, memorials, and shrines entrusted and or owned by the Order, and situated in all provinces, are managed within the confines of the GSO’s and SA Law, with emphasis on preservation and regulation.
For logistical reasons, the sub-committee is made up of co-opted serving Moths from any local Shellhole and district in the greater KZN and SKZN Dugout willing to commit their time and energies in preserving the Orders’ Artefacts, Shrines, and Sanctuaries. Of this co-opted committee and as present three members reside in Pietermaritzburg under the SKZN Provincial Dugout structure, and are involved in the oversee of the ‘Weeping Cross’ relic, for which the Order regularly expresses its gratitude.
In this same context of communication and best explained, a request was applied for on behalf of the MM&M co-opted committee to the appointed M.O.T.H. GHQ Standing Committee on Finance in November 2023, for a special grant of approximately R 180 000, to erect a ‘clear-vu’ structured type fence around the entire site of the Garden of Remembrance, and in doing so secure the area where the ‘Weeping Cross’ is housed. Concerns relating vandalism on the site, theft of fixtures and remembrance slabs, and the grave concern of likely risk to the actual relic, were cited as motivation. At this juncture, all Moths and including the general public must take into cognisance that M.O.T.H. GHQ involvement in this process only concerns the ‘Weeping Cross’ relic, and has nothing to do with the Garden of Remembrance, meaning the actual location in general, which actually falls under the management and maintenance of the Pietermaritzburg District Dugout of the M.O.T.H.
The Standing Committee on Finance rejected this request for a special grant as insufficient motivation (a fence can be climbed or even removed as has been proven), or even for that matter, the local PMB District Dugout commitment in at least showing the initiative in raising funds over the extended period of concerns to upgrade the area, was not forthcoming, and was now expecting a hand out of M.O.T.H. funds, that could best be rather served in assisting fellow Moths in need as is the anticipated mandate of the Order. To further motivate the matter in obtaining best advice on the application, the FNE made a decision to appoint an ad-hoc committee to assess and determine the site’s location, and risks noted relating the Relic only, as well as recommendation of options to mitigate these risks. This ad-hoc committee comprised the M.O.T.H. National Vice-Chairman Moth Glen Smit, the Chairman M.O.T.H. Memorials and Museums Moth Mike Lee, and FNE member Moth John Goodrich.
The ad-hoc committee on conclusion of this assessment, presented and filed their report with the FNE, who approved their assessment and subsequent proposals, and hence then referred it to be presented at the next full meeting of GHQ on 18th May 2024. It was at this GHQ meeting with all Provinces duly represented, that the assessment was presented for their consideration and or counter proposal. It must be noted at this point by all Moths and civilians alike, who understand the process of democracy; a tabled vote was then taken by the elected representatives of all Provinces on behalf of their members, who then unanimously approved the recommendations motivated in that assessment. It must be noted that one of the members of the MM&MC and being Pietermaritzburg based, when informed, then wanted to appeal the decision made by GHQ. The said member was then informed that in terms of the GSO’s, he could not appeal against a decision of the highest controlling and duly elected body of the M.O.T.H., as it was unanimous and taken on behalf of and by all Provinces and its elected members. The GHQ decision on the matter was then communicated throughout the Order along internal lines of communications and including meetings where members of the PMB District Dugout and subsequent local Shellholes were present. At none of these meetings were any objections raised to this decision by any members, or for that matter related back to GHQ as is procedure.
The subsequent negative conflagration unleashed by ill-informed civilians and non-members, as well as persona non grata ‘expelled’ members, is in direct conflict of the GSO’s relating media without due diligence being followed by specific serving Moths, on social media and the likes claiming to be not informed of this decision, suggests contempt for the Order and its principles. Certain members of the District, who now claim to have been uninformed of the decision, even went so far as to attempt to entrap the M.O.T.H. National Vice-Chairman as the guest speaker at a recent Delville Wood Memorial Parade in Pietermaritzburg, to address the audience and media present and specifically invited, on the decision to remove the ‘Weeping Cross’, hence his forewarned cancellation of this obligation. An internal breakdown of communication, if it did occur, will therefore have to be directed toward the PMB District Dugout, whose District and Shellhole members have access to internal M.O.T.H. platforms and some members involved who will indeed through due process, atone for this serious infraction of the GSO’s and by bringing the M.O.T.H into disrepute.
At current process, members of the FNE have engaged AMAFA Heritage in KZN, who are subservient to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), which is the statutory organization established under the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999, as the national administrative body responsible for the protection of South Africa’s cultural heritage, on the process to follow going forward and relating only the Relic. The advice and steps to take as received, will be discussed at the FNE meeting scheduled for 17th August 2024, following which further action and decisions will be taken.
Key Notary:
The renowned ‘Weeping Cross’ has been lodged on M.O.T.H. property in Pietermaritzburg since 1956, after the acknowledged inability to protect and preserve by the Pietermaritzburg municipality and the former Natal Carbineers regiment, who presented the Relic to the M.O.T.H. During and since that time, very few outside organisations if any, nor local community member or commune of community at large, or the PMB City Council and its representatives, has shown any interest in assisting the M.O.T.H. in this Relic’s upkeep or preservation. ‘It is very easy to shout from the side-lines on what others should do, especially if you don’t have to foot the bill’. The financial commitment to preserve, and management thereof as far as the obligation to the relic termed the ‘Weeping Cross’ has been for over 65 years a M.O.T.H. conundrum and mandament van spolie, which will be handled with the extreme utmost due diligence, dedication, and in continued effort to uphold the sanctity of one of the three M.O.T.H ideals, Sound Memory, relating, in the remembrance of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice through world conflict, to realize global peace.
