Mac Osman comes across as gentle and soft-spoken, which belies his love of actively serving the community through the NDE 911 Safety Group. This WhatsApp group has hundreds of members dedicated to safety and security in the town.
Mac is also a loving father of three – two girls and a son – and the husband to the ever-supportive Soraya. The community will remember Mac and Soraya as the friendly couple at what was then Eastern Delites, on the corner of McKenzie and Wilson Streets. While his son, pharmacist Arshad, and Soraya sometimes express nervousness when Mac fearlessly heads out late at night with members of NDE 911, they are always supportive.
“You cannot be involved in something that can potentially lead you into danger without the support of your family. With my faith in God and my family as my mainstay, I always feel protected.”
Mac’s two daughters have since flown the nest. Rabia is a teacher in Abu Dhabi while Romana and her husband farm in the Knysna area. He says the children normally treat him on Father’s Day with a gift, followed by a family outing and a delicious meal. Asked about his role as a father, Mac says he never takes decisions alone.
“I involve the whole family when making decisions that affect all of us. I am originally from Pretoria and we have moved around quite a bit; for six years we ran a business in the small town of Roossenekal in Mpumalanga and we have been in Dundee for 19 years.”
Mac’s personality can be described as benign but determined, and he likes to think he has passed this trait on to this children. In general, he is certainly one of those dads making a difference in his community.
“Serving the community via the 911 Group is something I feel passionate about. There is a sense of accomplishment knowing we have helped an elderly or vulnerable person. This kind of thing is not a burden – I see it as a way of molding one’s personality, rather than vice versa.”
ALSO READ: Concerns over net fishing at Chelmsford dam
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.
