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HISTORY OF THE PIETERMARITZBURG & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CHEST
A Community Chest was first mooted in Pietermaritzburg by members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) in 1957, and an interim Committee was set up to develop the idea in November 1958.
A Steering Committee of prospective donors was elected in September 1959, raising R3 600 prior to a public meeting held on 3 August 1960 – taken to be our founding meeting – at which a second Interim Committee was appointed to draw up a Constitution, which was adopted at the second Annual General Meeting on 14 September 1962.
From the outset, the Mayor of Pietermaritzburg serves as ex-officio President of the Chest and the Administrator / Premier of the Province of KwaZulu Natal serves as Patron.
Dr. Bernard Armitage was the Chest’s first Chairman, and Mr Glyn Thornton-Dibb the first auditor (a post he held until 1994). The list of Chairpersons is as follows:
| Dr B A Armitage |
1961 - 1983 |
| Mr K C Anderson |
1983 - 1987 |
| Dr K E Wimble |
1987 - 1989 |
| Mr B J Moore |
1989 - 1990 |
| Mr A Uys |
1990 - 1991 |
| Mr K Makan |
1991 - 2002 |
| Mr B V Mshengu |
2002 - 2004 |
| Dr D Kambouris |
2004 - |
From the early days the work of the Chest was entrusted to a paid executive officer, later renamed Executive Director in line with other Chests. The incumbents have been as follows:
| Mrs D Botha |
1964 - 1967 |
| Commander L W B Cotching |
1967 - 1977 |
| Rev J J E Barow |
1977 - 1978 |
| Mrs A H Bennewith |
1978 - 1981 |
| Mr F I Parnell |
1981 - 1985 |
| Mr N K Turner |
1986 - 1993 |
| Mr M A G Loudon |
1993 - 1997 |
| Mr C Black |
1997 - 1999 |
| Mr J Scarrott |
1999 - 2003 |
| Mr C H Bennett |
2003 - 2004 |
| Mr A Naidoo |
2004 - |
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