Family receives donations following house fire
The family is still in need of assistance and an appeal has been made for the community to help.
A Brakpan family who lost their home and belongings in a fire are slowly getting back on their feet thanks to support from the community.
The Herald reported in its June 4 edition, ‘Family displaced by fire’, how the Mohammed family of three watched in horror as their Muir Avenue home went up in a blaze on May 31.
Last Thursday they received a donation of appliances, including a stove, a kettle and an iron, blankets, towels and groceries from Barllin Govender (63), founder of Community Development Foundation.
“It was very painful to see the plight of this family,” said Govender.
“I felt the need to lend a helping hand. Everything they had was engulfed by the fire.”
The family is living in a caravan.
Their house had a thatched roof and wooden floors, allowing the fire to spread rapidly.
The family has two tenants living in a separate building on the property and homeowner Kate Mohammed told the Herald it would have been unfair to ask the tenants to move out so they can occupy the outside room.
She was emotional as she explained the day of the tragedy when the fire took everything from them – the house they called their home for 15 years was destroyed in a moment.
“I’m still shocked about what happened to our house. The fire affected everyone, including the tenants,” she said.
“We are still traumatised. On the day, I and Chantelle de Beer (tenant) ran to the street screaming and crying.
“I’m very happy that some people have seen our plight and offered to help us with necessities to help us survive as we plan a way forward.”
Kate’s husband, Jameel, is a mechanic who repairs cars on the property.
This is the family’s only source of income.
The fire did not spare several cars on the premises.
Two of the cars belonged to family members and the others to customers.
Kate explained they need a vehicle to take their son, who suffers from a mental disability to the hospital for regular treatment.
Getting to and from the hospital will now be difficult after their vehicles were damaged.
The family is still in need of assistance and an appeal has been made for the community to help.
For donations, contact Marlise Pieterse on 072 941 5797 or Christo Pieterse on 082 427 8335.
Items can also be dropped off at 39 Muir Avenue.
