“Christmas will never be Christmas again.”
These are the words of Rosetta Brits, who lost four of her children due to the gas tanker explosion on December 24, 2022.
Almost a year after losing Jamel Eales (16) and Sebastian (14), Adrian (12) and Gerrie Brits (10), Rosetta is still trying to pick up the pieces. Jamel’s boyfriend, Ivan de Lange (25) also lost his life in the explosion.
The family lives in Plantation and Adrian, Gerrie and Sebastian attended Laerskool Goudrand Primary.
Rosetta discovered their loved ones were involved in the explosion after they went to the scene to see what happened.
Rosetta remains emotional when talking to the Boksburg Advertiser at her house about the past year.
Traces of the damage caused by the explosion in the house remain visible as some of the ceilings are still broken and walls cracked.
“It was a tough year for me. It doesn’t get better. I feel like it’s getting worse as I miss them more as time goes by. Jamel and I used to do everything together,” said Rosetta.
Never forgotten
The bereaved mother said she was never into tattoos but decided to permanently ink her late children’s names on her right arm a few months ago.
Their names, with every child’s birth date underneath, form a heart. Inside the heart, along with the words ‘gone but never forgotten’, is the date of the fateful explosion.
“A woman offered to do it free of charge and I accepted it,” she explained.
Rosetta said her three remaining children, Dezie (13), Patrick (8) and Daniel (4) miss their siblings.
“The little ones are heartbroken and keep asking for their brothers and sister.”
On the first anniversary of the tragic event, Rosetta will spend the day with family and friends.
“My heart is going to break on the day of the anniversary,” she said.
A helping hand
George de Freitas from Sunward Park said, “After I heard about this terrible accident and when I saw this lady on the TV crying her eyes out, I decided to do something for this family,
“For the next 12 months, I donated breakfast and other essentials as they needed to eat and the children needed something in their stomachs before school.
“I hope I made a difference in their lives, and should anyone want to sponsor food, contact me and I will deliver it to the family. My feelings go out to all the people who lost their loved ones.”
Furthermore, he thanked Gift of the Givers for all the water they supplied during that hot day before Christmas.
Anybody who can assist may contact him on 076 804 2408.
