A family who escaped with their lives after a petrol bomb attack on their home last week was blessed with donations on Mandela Day.
The family, who lives on the farm Nuut Gewek on Botfontein Road just outside Kraaifontein, expressed gratitude when Pastor Kathleen Forbes arrived with bags of food, blankets and much-needed kitchen utensils on Sunday.
Pastor Kathleen, from Immanuel Christian Ministries in Kraaifontein, says: “Madiba always said ‘give and you shall receive’, but we should not just reserve this for Mandela Day but everyday where there is need. I’m just happy that we could help this family.
“We spoke to our sponsors to assist, and then we also decided to hand out food to the children and people living in this farm community.”
A grateful Bernadette Fisher says she is just happy her husband Nick Witbooi, 63, is alive and well.
“We are so happy to receive all this, we are still trying to repair our home and especially the roof that was badly damaged, but we know that the pastor’s prayer will see us through,” she say.
According to Nick, residents at Covid informal settlement accused him of stealing a TV set, which he denies.
“We don’t even have electricity here, how must we operate a TV? It was the bin scratchers,” he insists.
He says he was in the kitchen when the petrol bomb landed next to him.
“If I did not move so quickly, I would have died,” he says.
“Our whole house burnt, we lost everything.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi says a case of arson is being investigated: “The motive for the attack is a misunderstanding.”
Anyone who would like to assist the family can call George Damons on 061 676 8022.