House burns: Family writes to famous American TV show host for help
A Toekomsrus family whose home was destroyed in a raging fire last year has now gone so far as to write to celebrity Steve Harvey for help in rebuilding it.
A family whose home was destroyed in a raging fire five months ago has now gone so far as to write to celebrity Steve Harvey for help in rebuilding it.
Although the family is immensely grateful for the help they have received from the community thus far, they said more work is needed to be done in order to rebuild their 30-year-old beloved home. During a recent visit from the Herald, the family said promises have been made by those in high places, but none have been delivered.
“We are still scattered as a family, we live in various places and we are still wearing the clothes donated to us by members of the community. We were struck by the tragedy months ago, in 2018, and are still feeling the pain,” said Raylene Martin, one of the family members.
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She said she is extremely grateful to the person in the community who took her in, but that it is inconvenient and uncomfortable to live in someone else’s home.
Raylene added that it was not only difficult to lose her business in the fire, but is she battling to make ends meet.
In her efforts to get some assistance, she said she had written letters to the mayor of the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM), a well-known TV show, and even to Steve Harvey, the famous comedian, television host and actor.
“I have even written to people overseas, such as Steve, just to come to our aid,” Raylene said.
Raylene said the family would welcome any help from anywhere, just as long as they do not politicise the matter.
“Everyone should come on board,” she said.
She said the family has been told by engineers that the house will have to be demolished and rebuilt from the foundations up, which means they will need more funds than ever for the project.
Among the problems experienced in the charred and roofless home is continuous vandalism.
Willem Kaalse, 68, who owned the property, said: “I hope people will help to rebuild our home so that we can get back to our normal lives. We not only lost a home, but we also suffered a lot of trauma”.
The family said they are hoping that, with the help of the community, and sponsors from everywhere, they will soon be able to live as a unit once again.
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