Thirty-eight homeless people are destitute after a fire destroyed the Salvation Army’s Goodwill House in Kimberley, a home spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Salvation Army Captain Desiree Schrickker said the fire ravaged the house on Tuesday afternoon after a new homeless occupant tried to make a fire in the fire-place in the building.
”It was cold and he did not know it was broken and the roof rafters were exposed,” said Schrickker.
Most of the homeless people spent Tuesday night at Schrickker’s home.
”The men were packed in like sardines in the living room and the ladies shared the beds in the house,” said Schrickker, indicating that it would probably the same on Wednesday night.
She said accommodation was being prepared at a church hall, but the hall could not yet be made warm enough for people to stay in it.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) donated 100 blankets and foodstuffs to victims of the fire on Wednesday.
Kholekile Nogwili, Sassa acting regional manager, said the donation was ”timeous” as Kimberley’s temperature was hovering around an all-time low this year.
He urged the public and Kimberley businesses to assist. — Sapa