Beeton family needs the community’s help

KEVIN Beeton (61), an elderly resident in Bethlehem Road, South Hills, is struggling to make ends meet with his meager state pension as he reportedly owes City Power R35 000 and is yet to receive his final UIF payment.

According to Kevin he received a statement from City Power indicating that he owed R35 000 and needed to start making payments. Not being able to afford a large installment, Kevin arranged to make R1000 monthly payments from his R1400 pension to avoid his electricity from being shut off. With the remaining R400 Kevin has to buy food and other essentials for him, his 22-year-old son and 33-year old daughter who live with him as they are both struggling to find work.

Kevin has been walking from South Hills to Alberton since the beginning of the year in the hope of receiving his remaining R436 UIF payout but with each visit he is told to come back again the following month.

“The first UIF money I have already received. But now I need the remaining R436 because I do not have food for my family but every time I walk that distance for nothing. I do not have money to take a taxi. You can look at my fridge, there is nothing. My daughter and I help at the local church and we get R200 each, I give my R200 to my daughter to help with her children,” explained Kevin.

Kevin is asking for help from any person or organisation. He said his daughter and son are also looking for any type of work so they can provide for themselves. Kevin said he would appreciate any person willing to donate clothes to his grandchildren who are 8 and 10. “We cannot even pay school fees. The bill is sitting at R4 000,” he added.

Kevin’s family is not looking for handouts. They want opportunities so they can be able to help themselves and each other survive. Kevin would also appreciate donations of material or furniture people no longer use.

COURIER is following the story in hopes of finding people who can help the family and Kevin with his final UIF payout.