Gran in plea for help to care for grandchildren
A MANENBERG grandmother has appealed to the public for assistance for her grandchildren after their belongings were destroyed in a fire on Thursday.
Bonita Adams, who cares for her three grandchildren in the main house in Kei Street, said her daughter and boyfriend and their baby occupied a wendy house on the property while her two other grandchildren stayed with her in the house.
Adams said her daughter, her boyfriend and baby occupied the wendy house at the back of her home, while her two other grandchildren stayed with her. She said most of her grandchildren’s belongings were kept in the wendy house and the children have been left with little.
“My eldest daughter is on drugs. She and the boyfriend lived in the backyard. I had an argument with them for running off with the children’s grant money and only returning the next day without any money left. I woke them up with a bucket of water while they were sleeping and they left.
“The boyfriend returned, asking me if he could take a jacket and shoes and when he came out he grabbed the baby out of my hand and ran. That was when we realised that the place was on fire and that he had set fire to it to spite me because the door was locked when we tried to put out the fire.
“The social worker told me to keep the kids so the two girls, aged one and seven, and boy, 9, are in my care now.”
“I have nothing for them. They need clothing, shoes, the baby needs nappies and other essentials. The baby is breastfeeding, so I got her a bottle. I sleep on a mattress on the floor. I don’t want them to sleep on the floor with me and I have no cupboards to put clothing in for them.”
Roegchanda Pascoe, a member of the Manenberg Safety Forum who has been trying to assist the family, said: “I knew with the Covid-19 that resources were not going to be available for this family. I put out a call on Facebook for assistance. The children are all very young.”
City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed there were no injuries or fatalities in the blaze. He said they responded at 8.22am and the fire was put out at 9.04am.
Donations can be dropped off at Manenberg police Station or 49 Kei Street, Manenberg. Adams can be reached on 081 344 7762.