Fire survivor Norman needs help

On Saturday December 6, I was phoned by the gentleman living next door to the flat that was on fire.

Norman van As has been treated at one of the mental homes that diagnosed him as being bipolar and schizophrenic, he has been on medication because Reuven is not in a frail care home. They depend on him taking the medication which obviously he does not do! The mental home obviously had to send him back as they did not have a space for him to stay.

He had made a fire in the flat but if you see from the picture, the amount of rubbish he collected you will see why the flat caught alight, many flammable items and apparently the flat is also infested with rats.

Unfortunately, because I suffer from asthma I had to be very careful of the fire or smoke, so I phoned the fire brigade that told me that it was reported. They went out and unfortunately the security at the gate did not know about the fire and sent them away. I told them to go to the gate again, and tell them that Norman van As had his flat on fire.

The police were there apparently from Booysens Police Station to take statements. I have to say that Norman has to be moved. He is a menace, swears at people when he goes around the flats sometimes at midnight looking for soap or going to them to get matches for his cigarettes. The ladies are so scared at night as he is quite vicious and continues to pester them.

As a Health and Human rights activist I would go to the home weekly and hand out food that we collect from Woolworths. We caught him trying to sell the products and we only give him sandwiches and fruit that he does not have to cook. He does not pay rent, has no lights and lives like a real hobo. He should never ever have been allowed to live there. He was lucky this time, but what happens the next time he sets the place on fire? The residents are up in arms as they believe that he could one day be the cause of their death. Please, could someone help us to get Norman van As into the home for mentally challenged.

Sue Lubbe

Health and Human rights activist