I am the step-grandfather of five grandchildren from my wife’s son from her previous husband.
The children are three girls and two boys. The youngest has been staying with us since he was about three months old and he is turning five years next April.
The other four children came to us about eight months ago. A while back, my grandchildren on my wife’s side were going to be taken away from their mother. At that time, they were staying in Venterspost.
The welfare on that side contacted my wife and I to ask if we can take the children because that would prevent sending them to an orphanage.
The children’s father was unable to take them in and their mother has agreed that they come to stay with us. She was unemployed at the time and had no source of income except a Sassa grant for only two of the children.
The children’s ages are three girls aged 13, 12 and eight and a nine-year-old boy.
I had a good, stable job when all this started, I even took time off work the day we went to fetch them. Anyway, they came to stay with us.
With my basic salary that was left every month after debts, rent and normal cost of living and helping with clothing and food that some people helped us with, we survived. But, unfortunately, the contract expired at the company where I was working and I was retrenched at the beginning of August.
That set me back big time. I couldn’t pay my rent in full, meaning I could only pay R1 000 for August, instead of R2 500 as I should and did for the last three years I have been staying here. I have been looking for work since then but couldn’t find any thus far, meaning I am behind with my rent for August – R1 500, September – R2 500 and now for October – R2 500.
I managed to do some piece jobs until now, but sometimes I hardly made enough to put food on the table and to see that the children get what they need for school and school fees, plus the youngest one that has his needs as well.
It’s becoming more and more difficult for me to keep my head above water and cope, but I’m holding on for the children’s behalf and my wife. At the beginning of September my landlord came to me saying if I can’t pay the outstanding rent plus this month’s rent month-end, we must move out.
Where am I going to get that kind of money being unemployed and where am I going to get a place to stay for my family being unemployed with no real income? I’m all stressed out because I don’t know what to do anymore.
I am even willing to work for a room until I can find a permanent job again, then discuss paying rent. Any kind of help would be appreciated in any way.
I need to get a place which is big enough for five children and two adults and as close as possible to the children’s school. If there is anyone out there who will be able to help us in any way they can contact me. I have sleepless nights not knowing what will happen to my family if we must move out from here month-end.
All I want is to give my wife and grandchildren the best life can offer and make the best of any situation, no matter how hard life gets. If there is anyone who might be able to assist me in making this happen for me to give my family home, I would really appreciate it.
I am not a lazy person when it comes to work and by trade I am a motor mechanic, but I am multi-skilled in many other trades as well and general maintenance skills.
Danny Turner, 061 973 9504, South Hills
