Heart breaking post received from Tersia Venter (Peacehaven)

My plan for this Saturday (July 18 2020), was to relax, paint and spend a quiet day at home with my family. Instead, I moved around in dreadfulness of the horror story that played itself out in my community.

A terrible tragedy has befallen the Peacehaven community. A fire started in the bedroom of one of the houses and a four-year old boy, who was asleep in the room with his seven-year old brother, burnt to death. His charred body retrieved by the firemen.

For six weeks we have been sitting with an electricity issue that ELM disregarded and left a vulnerable community to its own devices.

Today, 18 July 2020, was a miserable day filled with indescribable grief and sorrow that a whole community shared. The horror that unfolded in the aftermath is too awful for words.

Eight people lost most of their earthly possessions. One mother lost a child and everything she possessed.

I was able to get in contact with people who did not hesitate for one moment to assist me in this dilemma, as food, blankets, clothes and mattresses were critical to replace.

I would like to thank Charmaine for immediately jumping in to help with contacts. I would also like to thank Corrie and Sonja van Staden from Showers of Blessings who, without hesitation, helped out with blankets and non-perishable food. The GTCOC, Alice de Jager and Klippies Kritzinger who straightaway sponsored food parcels. Sharne Smith from River Square, who once again, without thinking twice, jumped in to assist people who now rely on the goodwill of others.

The above brought much needed short-term relief. Those people will need a lot more assistance in the future and I am asking for your help in this regard. Not money, but household items. Pots, cooking utensils, a two-plate stove, (which was the only recognizable item in the room), cups, plates, paint, ceiling board, anything that you can spare to help in this regard.

You can contact me on 084 050 4826 or tersiaventer1@gmail.com (I do not have messenger) if you feel that you can assist in any way.