When the need is pressing, the Kraaifontein community wastes no time to jump right in to help.
Local business and the community took hands to raise much needed funds to upgrade security at the Bright Stars Safe Home for children after a small squatter camp sprung up against their back wall.
Bright Stars is a non-profit organisation In Belmont Park that provide shelter for vulnerable children in the poorer communities whose welfare has been compromised by parental drug or alcohol abuse or HIV status. Children between the ages of five days and 16 years are currently cared for at the home.
Brenda Jooste, manager at the home, says their safety has been jeopardised since the shacks went up.
“Six families live there. They often get drunk, and things get violent. One woman was recently assaulted, and beer bottles and dirty condoms are constantly thrown over the walls.
“They use blankets to get over our electric fence to steal whatever they can lay their hands on in our backyard. They have stolen our chairs, clothes, blankets, an aluminium ladder and one of the children’s bicycles forgotten outside. We constantly have to phone the police and law enforcement, but mere days after being removed, they return,” Jooste told the newspaper.
upgrading security
Jooste also suspects that drugs are being sold from the squatter camp behind the house.
“Cars stop outside and come and go on a regular basis. We live in fear and the children are scared. We desperately need to spruce up security and do other upgrades at the home.
“Our electrical fence and security measures in the house need fixing. The cheapest quote we got was almost R9 000, an amount we simply can’t afford. Apart from that we need painting and doors need replacing. There is so much to be done, I don’t know anymore,” she says.
In a race to get the funds together, Logan Jacobs from Uncle Stans Pub in Peerless Park took initiative to organise a potjiekos competition on Saturday night. All the funds from food sold were donated to the home.
Judges Solly Lottering, Samantha Joseph, Anthea Ligman, Priscilla Coetzee, Valencia Beyers en Chaney Maritz were impressed by all the pots, but ultimately Owen Hendricks and Liz Hoogbaard walked away as winners. Hoogbaard says she felt honoured to have been able to help the children.
Jacobs offered a heartfelt thank you to sponsors Red Square, Distell, Uncle Stans pub and hair salon owner Angelique August who sponsored prizes.
Melandre Sias of Bright Stars safety home accepted the cash donation on behalf of the home saying that the funds will go a long way at fixing things.
For more information contact Brenda Jooste on 084 039 4210.
