KAROO NEWS - DA councillors Garry Wiehahn and Ricardo Smith recently initiated a drive to help rebuild the devastated lives of the Roberts family who lost two daughters when their shack in the Riemvasmaak informal settlement was destroyed in a fire on 6 September.
The fire claimed the lives of 9-year-old Chevone and 12-year-old Melrhiana Roberts.
Their grandmother, Martha Roberts (63), and younger sister, Chanté Roberts (5), managed to escape and were rushed to Midland Hospital before being transferred to Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.
Sadly, Martha also lost the fight against her burn wounds and passed away on 11 September.
At the time of the fire the girls' parents, Riaan Jaftha and Shahida Roberts, were on a farm outside Graaff-Reinet where they work.
Through a generous donation from Derick Light and Moira Kingwill Light, as well as several other donors, councillors Wiehahn and Smith were able to purchase some of the materials needed to rebuild the shack.
The Graaff-Reinet Build-It team donated the rest of the material. The two councillors and members of the community started building in late September and Samantha Graham-Maré visited the site early in October to check on the progress. "I met with the mother of the little girls. Her heart is broken and her life is shattered, but at least she will have a home for her remaining daughter," says Graham-Maré.
Councillor Wiehahn says there are still a few things that need to be done but Shahida has been able to move in.
Little Chanté is still in hospital but, according to her mother, will be discharged on Friday 20 October. "My daughter is doing very well, and we are extremely grateful that she recovered."
Photo Two:Councillor Garry Wiehahn helping to rebuild the Roberts' home.
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