Bringing Christmas cheer to the less fortunate is an act of compassion almost next to godliness.

Bringing Christmas cheer to the less fortunate is an act of compassion almost next to godliness.

Such acts of goodwill reinforce not only one's belief in the spirit of humaness - ubuntu - but also in the positive attributes belonging to the network of communities.

Inspiring this positive feeling is the kind gesture of the Johannesburg's Rosebank Mall in bringing a rare smile to the widows and orphans of police killed on duty by organising a festive season party for them this week.

Many of the families will be spending their first Christmas without their breadwinners and loved ones - police officers who died while trying to make South Africa a safe place for all of us.