More donations for #Knysnafire victims

JOBURG – Masses of donations for fire disaster victims delivered at Caxton offices.

June 9, 2017

Siso Naile 2 minutes read

Individuals, businesses and organisations across Joburg rallied to help those that have been left with nothing but the clothes they wore when the devastating fire broke out in Knysna in the Western Cape.

The fire caused many deaths, left thousands homeless and caused millions of rands of damage. A well-received call was made on different Facebook groups from 8 June, appealing to organisations and residents to donate items for the fire victims which would then be transported to a disaster management centre in Knysna.

Coenraad van Rensburg loads donated items onto the truck that will ferry items to disaster victims.

The first load, a 10 ton truck sponsored by Colorpress, a printing company, left for Knysna on 8 June after residents from the greater Randburg area filled up the truck with all the items that were dropped off at the Randburg Basketball Club.

“We wanted to do something after we realised how bad the devastation was in Knynsa,” said Coenraad van Rensburg, one of the organisers.

After sharing the idea on Facebook and encouraging people to repost the message, Van Rensburg expressed his disbelief following the overwhelming support.

“[Initially] we had a bakkie and a trailer. We decided to get our Facebook friends to donate stuff that we can send down to Knysna. We spread the word on social media between our friends and the next thing it just snowballed and became very huge. Everyone wanted to contribute and get involved,” Van Rensburg recalled.

Following the masses of donations which included blankets, food and toiletries, in a space of half an hour, Van Rensburg said that they had to arrange a truck to ferry all the items.

Families of affected victims also visited the drop-off points to support the cause.

Dalette Mulder from Weltevreden Park cleared out a lot to help those in need.

An anxious Lize Gardner, whose daughter Jad survived the devastating fire, said the least she could do was to donate stuff which will also benefit her high school daughter.

“What can I do? I cannot send her messages after she said ‘Mommy I’m scared’. The least I can do is give people stuff because my daughter, her husband and my in-laws have lost everything – not one photograph left,” a visibly distraught Gardener said.

Journalists Chantelle Fourie and Roxy de Villiers and Randburg Sun sales representative, Delene Cape, sort clothes for the Knysna disaster relief effort.

Journalist Chantelle Fourie with some blankets and pillows donated by the community.

The disaster relief effort also saw local businesses getting involved. Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital gave a huge donation which they dropped off at one of Caxton branches after the company opened its doors to those who wished to donate items.

Celia de Koker, marketing manager at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital fills up the corner space of the West Rand reception with items donated for Knysna fire victims.

The Caxton drop-off points during office hours on weekdays are: Caxton Joburg North office at 368 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park, and Caxton Joburg North West office at 1187 Cornelius Street in Weltevreden Park.