Masinenge flood, fire victims helped

WHEN numerous homes at Masinenge informal settlement were destroyed by a fire, and later floods, many people opened their hearts and joined hands to help.

D-Camp, a Christian outreach team from Edenvale, visited the area and were distraught to see how sections of the settlement had suffered.

The team supplied 20 families with food parcels and crockery when visiting on December 9.

A day later, a massive storm hit the South Coast and damaged many more homes. Some were destroyed as trees fell through the flimsy shelters. The floods washed away some of their possessions.

Shirley Oosthuizen, a member of Gates of Praise church, has also been working closely in the Masinenge community with other caregivers for a number of years through its Abounding Hope Ministries outreach.

“My heart broke as I watched a young boy surveying what was left of his home. Clothes, mattresses and blankets were water-logged and the structure was falling to pieces,” she said.

The team from Gates of Praise aims to teach skills to the community and thereby help improve their quality of life. It also ministers to the sick on a weekly basis, bringing hope and love to many forgotten and lonely people.

Assistance has also come from ‘Give a child a Family’, in particular with regards to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.

Build it in Port Shepstone donated R20 000 worth of building materials which were used to rebuild homes.

“We’d like to thank the branch manager Brian Lind, as well as head office’s James Crawford, for partnering with us,” said Mrs Oosthuizen.