Helping rebuild after fire
Liesl Ah Shene
RESIDENTS, businesses and committees came together to help Malabar extension 12 informal settlement dwellers who were left homeless when their shacks burnt down recently.
According to ward 12 councillor Shirley Sauls, the community and businesses really came together to help.
"The people are now settled," she said.
According to Sauls, the Diwali Celebration Committee gave R10000, of which was used to get the necessary hardware to rebuild the people's homes.
Sauls came to the people of the informal settlement's rescue by providing shelter in the community hall.
Belinda Chetty, who works in Auto & General's motor assessing department, attended a prayer meeting at the Malabar Community Centre were the victims of the shack fires were being housed.
After witnessing their need first hand and she felt she had to do something to help.
According to Chetty, there was an overwhelming amount of appreciation and gratitude, when the much- needed donation of food, toiletries, blankets, crockery and cutlery was made.
"We were so humbled. It's a moment I will never forget," she said.
Aveng Trident Steel heeded the call of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality PR councillor for Ward 12, Lindelwa Mettavainio and Numsa financial services official Sizwe Foley to assist 20 destitute families.
Two trucks from the company brought hope to this community by bringing planks and steel roof sheeting, in order for them to rebuild the structures they lost in the fire.
Mettavainio expressed her relief that the material had been provided as those affected will now be able to work towards building better lives for themselves.
Karen Primo, who was affected by the shack fires three weeks ago, expressed her joy as their homes were being restored.