Even a blackout can’t stop the Christian Life Savers
Despite their electricity being cut the residents of the Christian Life Savers shelter still help those in need.
Despite numerous setbacks, the team at the Christian Life Savers shelter keeps providing to those in need, inside and outside the shelter.
The start of the new year was not an easy one for the residents of the shelter. JJ van Niekerk told the News that their electricity was cut off the day before the start of the new school year. The owner of the house claimed that their account was in arrears.
But despite the cold water and no electricity, all the children in the shelter went to school happy, healthy and ready on 15 January.
The lack of electricity also did not slow them down and on Thursday, 16 January a few good Samaritans went with the Life Savers group to spread the gospel and hand out hot soup and bread to those living on the street.
News journalist Natasha Pretorius tagged along. The night started off in different parts of Sivewright Street where Innocent, his English name, told her that he came from Randfontein.
The 18-year-old who sleeps on the street said that he came to Krugersdorp to look for a way to help out his mother and sister back home.
The group then moved to the Bob van Reenen Stadium where JJ found a young woman and her one-year-old baby. They came to Krugersdorp from Vryburg with her boyfriend to look for work but found themselves on the street just before Christmas.
Mom and baby were taken to the shelter quickly and provided with a warm bed and food.
And so the night continued, with the group moving to the front of the police station on Commissioner Street to the Paul Kruger Hall in Krugersdorp West and surrounds.
The residents of the shelter hand out food regularly but if the shelter can not afford to pay rent, water and electricity it will be closed. There are even rumours that the owner wants to sell the property which will result in all those living at the shelter being out on the streets again.
The shelter was given a piece of land in Hekpoort recently on which they wish to plant vegetables. This will provide food and funds to the shelter, and will provide jobs to those living in the shelter.
JJ is appealing to the community to please help them. They always need funds to pay the bills and feed the people, but they also need generators.
“I just want the kids to be happy and looked after,” a frustrated JJ said.
If you would like to help them, phone JJ on 072 312 9111.
