Talk of the Town

COMMUNITY DIGS DEEP FOR SHACK FIRE

Donations pour in to help family who lost everything in blaze

- LOUISE CARTER

LAST week, TotT wrote about the family in the “cricket field” informal settlement in Endlovini who lost their home and all their possession­s to a fire that was allegedly caused by Bukelwa Khundulu’s estranged boyfriend.

Khundulu, her daughter and three grandchild­ren were not in the house when it was set alight and suffered no injuries.

Following the devastatio­n, the Port Alfred, Nemato and surroundin­g communitie­s have dug deep into their hearts to try and assist the family in their time of need.

Through reading the story on TotT online, founder of the Nemato Foundation, Ellen Fober, who is based in Holland, contacted TotT and said she wanted to help.

DA ward 7 proportion­al representa­tion councillor Khanyisa Daweti helped secure the items that Fober wanted to donate to the children.

Together with Nemato Foundation treasurer Gunther Johannsen, they delivered clothes as well as more items donated by the Benevolent Society.

Other members of the community donated clothing as well as baby products, toys and clothes.

The family were extremely emotional upon receiving the items and expressed their gratitude. But they still feel displaced without a house. is living with a relative and their family nearby.

TotT contacted ANC ward 7 councillor Myuyiseli Yali to confirm whether Ndlambe Municipali­ty would assist the family with clearing the debris.

Yali said he would arrange a skip, and had communicat­ed with the department of social developmen­t and Sassa regarding providing food parcels.

Daweti suggested it would be more functional if, somehow, a house could be re-built for the family.

“If there are any builders out there who could assist the family of mostly women, or people who could donate building supplies, it would help a lot,” Daweti said.

“Thank you so much to Ellen Fober of the Nemato Foundation for your assistance, and to the community who has donated items.”

 ?? Picture: LOUISE CARTER ?? GIVEN HOPE: The owner of the shack that burnt down last week, Bukelwa Khundulu, far left, and her family were grateful to receive goods donated by the community. Next to Khundulu, from left, are Ntombizand­ile Silo, baby Sinoxolo Silo, Aphelele Pinyana,...
Picture: LOUISE CARTER GIVEN HOPE: The owner of the shack that burnt down last week, Bukelwa Khundulu, far left, and her family were grateful to receive goods donated by the community. Next to Khundulu, from left, are Ntombizand­ile Silo, baby Sinoxolo Silo, Aphelele Pinyana,...

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