Despair turned into hope
Tons of donated goods ranging from food to toys were have been distributed to victims of the devastating fire that destroyed hundreds of shacks in the Plastic View informal settlement.
Expressions of utter despair, futility and hopelessness made way for brave smiles as tons of goods were given to those who had lost everything in the devastating Plastic View blaze.
Last week, dozens of volunteers worked their fingers to the bone at the NG Church Moreleta Park to distribute generous donations.
These came from the public and local business to help those left destitute by a fire swept in the informal settlement on Sunday 3 July.
Five people died in the blaze.
“The reaction from the community to calls for assistance was overwhelming,” said Retha Erasmus, who on Thursday coordinated the huge operation.
“We thank the generous people who had given so much whether it is their time or goods.”
Large numbers of volunteers from a variety of churches, youth groups and other organisations helped.
They spent days at the Moreleta Park church to ensure that the almost 600 residents of Plastic View affected by the tragedy, received the necessities to survive.
The small “luxuries” – a teddy bear, a book, a doll or other toys and a packet of sweets or crisps – brought bright smiles and laughter of pure elation to the most vulnerable of the victims, the children.
According to Erasmus, 138 children were among the residents of the informal settlement
who had nothing left but the clothes they were wearing at the time tragedy struck.
The collection and distribution of donations were extremely well-planned and executed to ensure that no deserving person went without aid.
Those whose shacks burnt down were issued
with identification armbands and access to the church property, situated right next to Plastic View, was controlled.
Issued with walkie-talkies, volunteers monitoring the gates were in constant contact with those assisting with handing out supplies.
When Rekord visited the church, ten mothers, accompanied by their little children, were given access to the distribution centre at a time.
Huge heavy duty black bags were given to each mother as she entered the centre and from there the bags were being filled, starting with a food hamper, two blankets and women’s clothing.
From there, each mother received toiletries, women’s shoes, a pillow, a towel and bed linen.
Mothers with children were the given baby nappies, milk and toys. Chips and sweets were then handed out before each household received a solar lamp donated by Jacaranda FM.
Then mothers could choose boys’ and girls’ shoes and clothing before more food and boxes of breakfast cereal were also placed in the bags. Last were baby towels and blankets.
With volunteers assisting the women to get their goods to their new donated tented homes, the babies and children clung to their toys, also donated by the community.
Cars driving in at regular intervals to deliver donations, volunteers handing out goods as if on a production line and the tons of goods ready for distribution, made it clear that the people of Pretoria had opened their hearts to residents of the informal settlement.
On Thursday, steel giant AcelorMital started delivering sheets of corrugated iron at the church grounds for residents to rebuild shacks.
It delivered 13 000kg of metal sheets and on Friday, more were delivered.
At the same time the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) donated 400 mattresses as well as 400 blankets.
“Our offices are near the informal settlement and that means that it is our community that has been affected. We want to assist and make a difference,” said RTMC chief strategic officer Refilwe Mongale.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord onFacebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
- We have exciting news! We’re offering a free alert to help you always be in the loop. Send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ to breakingnews@rekord.co.za to receive your free daily breaking news update.
