Homeless in Munsieville

This report is from our South African Operations Manager, Betty Nkoana and describes many of the issues faced by the residents of Munsieville - crowded living conditions, extended families, poverty and vulnerable children:
Silently a family is enjoying its sleep on a winter morning at around 12.45 a.m. and suddenly there’s someone screaming in the shack…HELP, HELP THE SHACK IS BURNING!!!. The owner thought he was dreaming, but his wife woke him up aggressively and said, "Help the kids, the shack is burning….." "

The owner thought he was dreaming, but his wife woke him up aggressively and said, "Help the kids, the shack is burning….." And immediately he remembered, that earlier that night someone said to him, "I WILL BURN YOUR SHACK AND WLL KILL YOUR FAMILY…..ALL OF THEM! This family consists of granddad, grandma and the three grandsons. One of the grandsons is an orphan. All these boys lost their clothes, books and everything they had, while the grandparents lost their identity documents, furniture, etc. Their shack was burned to ashes and the council provided them with a tent for temporary shelter. Unfortunately winter has just started here in South Africa and this morning it was 9 ̐с and it was windy. Imagine having three children in such circumstances. I interviewed these boys this afternoon and I couldn’t hold my tears as they were talking on camera pleading for help. Their main request was please somebody, help us to get a shack again and also to get our school uniform and books.

I tried to find out what happened and here's the story from the family: "We accommodated one of our friends because this guy comes from our village back home. He came to Munsieville and he didn’t have a place to stay. This is the fifth month he has been staying with us but now he started to come back home very late at night and drunk. The old man tried several times to ask him not to come late because he is sending a bad message to the boys and also he doesn’t show any respect. He kept on doing it and so today, the old man decided not to open the door for him. He went away, but unfortunately he came back and burned the shack. The police are still looking for him."
The community is now working to support this family and help them to rebuild their home.