Open hearts of Hout Bay

I AM absolutely disgusted at the comments by columnist Ryland Fisher in Weekend Argus (Saturday, March 19) about the enormous help given by communities regarding the Imizamo Yethu fires and I quote from his article “The sceptic in me wonders about those people who only do good when disaster strikes others. I cant help thinking: Do they do good at other times as well or do they wait for disasters to happen so they can appease their conscience by giving away old clothes and blankets and maybe a few cans of food...”

The community of Hout Bay and people from much further afield have pulled together in an unprecedented manner to help the residents of Imizamo Yethu to survive from day to day. Thousands of people from here are giving not only their time and resources. They are giving emotional help. There isn’t a single person in Hout Bay who doesn’t know someone who has lost their home, their entire lives. All the big corporates are donating, food, clothing, blankets (yes Ryland, NEW clothes and blankets). There are fund-raising activities for the animal rescue centre, DARG. People have opened their homes to house, albeit temporarily, families from Imizamo Yethu.

And yes, Ryland, this should never have happened had the government or local authorities done something sooner but it is easy with hindsight.

We, the residents of Hout Bay, demand an apology from Ryland Fisher (and the Weekend Argus for allowing this to be printed) for the disingenuous and downright hurtful comments made by him. What is happening here is certainly nothing to do with appeasing consciences – it is a genuine outpouring of care from a community which wants to help.

I will be posting a copy of this letter on to our local Facebook site – Hout Bay Organised, in the hope others here will react in the same way I have. I am outraged at the comments in the article.