Picture: DESMOND COETZEE
As the month of Nelson Mandela, July is a time for people across the country to open their hearts and share kindness with others.
This was on full display when residents from the King William’s Town community came together to help Acorn Valley resident Lee-Anne Jonkers whose shack had been guttered by a fire last week.
Michael Webb, better known as the Pink Fairy, dropped off a bakkie loaded with donated items including clothes, bedding, matresses and household goods recently, while community leader Terence Fritz secured a food parcel and blankets.
Jonkers said she had only left her house for a couple of minutes before tragedy struck.
“After I had finished cooking, I switched off the flame on the stove and my children and I visited my granny who is staying about 80m away, just to check on her as it is a daily routine in our lives,” she said.
“I wasn’t even gone five minutes when neighbours started screaming and came over to alert me about my house, which by now was up in flames.”
She said the King fire department was despatched and tried their best to extinguish the blaze. However, their attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.
“I have lost everything. The clothes we were wearing are the only items we have left,” she said.
Jonkers’ neighbour Kaylene Cumming immediately circulated news about the incident on community group platforms, and Breidbach community leader Stacey Gosling shared the news even further through various social networks, which resulted in support coming in from different corners.
One of the helpers was Webb, who visited the scene last Friday and handed the bakkie-load of goods to Jonker and her family.
“I saw the video clip of the shack burning shared by Stacey on Facebook and told her that I will collect stuff together for the family.
“As usual the community, responded fantastically,” Webb said.
“Glenda Victor, Lungqa Nqini, Sisa and the community church scouts group, the Lutheran Church, Candice Chiles, the Venter family, Al Amidad Foundation, King SPCA and Aurette Aucamp-Hayes from the UK are just a few of the donors to mention.”
Jonkers was grateful for the incredible support and could only say “thank you” before bursting into tears.
Webb said further donations would be dropped off as they came in and called on anyone wanting to help to drop items at King Buffalo Toyota or to contact him on 084-597-8254.
