Kindness burned brighter for a fire-stricken community at Pietermaritzburg’s Dakota Beach informal settlement, where 1000 families were affected. While most focused on the damage, some focused on rebuilding and putting a smile back on the faces that needed it most.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (17 April, 2023) — Putting out literal fires is one job. Putting out the fires in people’s burnt-out spirits after their communities have been devastated is another.
Recently, community champions swooped in to put smiles back on the faces who had every reason to feel otherwise in Isipingo’s Dakota Beach informal settlement, Pietermaritzburg.
According to Daily Maverick, hundreds of homes and feelings of hope went up in flames on Saturday evening in the informal settlement after a fire broke out. Roughly 1000 families were affected, though luckily, no lives were reported as lost as firefighters worked tirelessly to battle and put out the flames.
According to the Ethekwini Municipality, the firefighters managed to save 50 dwellings.
Still, the community’s spirit was dim, with many wondering: ‘What now?’.
But kindness tends to rise from the ashes even in the darkest times, and for the Dakota Beach informal settlement dwellers, it certainly did.
The South African Red Cross Society rallied together to ensure that people got hot meals and temporary shelter through tents. In the same breath, Gift of the Givers stepped in with multiple mattresses, warm blankets and bulk food supplies to ease the stress of the aftermath.
Both humanitarian organisations are on a mission to spark hope for these families and have urged South Africans to help them continue these efforts. We can all be the heroes we’d want during these times by using items we don’t need to rebuild the community!
- Gift of the Givers Contributions: 0800 786 911
- Red Cross Society Donations: Contact 071 904-6970
Both the South African Red Cross Society and Gift of the Givers are always on the lookout to lend loads of help, often filling in the gaps where the government falls short. We take all our hats off to them and all the work they do behind the scenes almost every day.
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