Africa-Press – Namibia. WALVIS Bay community members donated food, clothing and bedding to a family at Tsintsabis outside Tsumeb in the Oshikoto region on Saturday.
The family of six lost their belongings in a fire in October last year, and has since been living in a structure made out of sticks.
Walvis Bay local authority councillor Ryan Gordon said he was at Tsumeb last week, and heard about the family through friends.
“It was really a sad story. I decided to tell people at Walvis Bay about this family, and within three days we received so many items. I decided to go back to Tsumeb. I was surprised that some even paid for our transportation. That is how I know my community at Walvis Bay. I really applaud them,” he said.
Rudolf Keiseb on Saturday said he and his family were watching soccer in the area on 2 October, when people alerted him that his corrugated iron shack was on fire.
“We ran to the house and could already see the fire had spread. We have a water pump in the area, but it is really difficult to get water out of it. There is another one that is a bit far.
“Some people tried to get water from there, but it was too late. We lost all our belongings and national documents. I also lost my marriage certificate. My wife is especially sad about her sewing machine,” he said.
Keiseb said he was surprised to receive the donation as he was not aware people knew about his situation.
He said regional and local authority councillors visited him after the incident and promised to help, but never returned.
“It has been almost six months, but I remained hopeful that God would make a way for me. I really thank the people of Walvis Bay for their open hearts,” he said.
Some items were also distributed among 40 other families in the area.
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