Dear Friends of Golden Sunbeams
We would have liked to once again send happy news from Cape Town across the African continent and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. But that’s not so easy given the persistent heavy rainfall and the damage it causes…
We told you about the freak weather and the last flood with its dire consequences in our newsletter in July. It was clear to us: this was the last big rain of winter, and matters could only get better from now on. Unfortunately, it’s far from the truth…
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, due to the new moon constellation with strong winds, there was a spring tide in our area, flooding several costal roads. Waves with heights of up to nine metres were measured along the entire Garden Route. Many of the cars parked on the waterfront were swept away by the water, and some of the restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the waterfront sustained major damage. Bridges, cars and roads were just washed away.
A week later, on Sunday, September 24, 2023, weather warnings were issued due to expected extreme rainfall. During the night from Sunday to Monday it rained so incredibly heavily that entire areas of the country sank into the mud and the masses of water swept away bridges and roads.
Our kindergarten Playway Pre-Primary School in Helderzicht was already severely affected by the last rains in July. We then had new toilets and basins installed in the baby room and replaced the old carpet, which had become unusable due to water and mud. This new carpet had to be removed again and pre-laid because water had entered the rooms for a second time after the heavy rain in September.
But there is also positive news to report about Playway Pre-Primary School. Rosslyn, the principal was proud to tell us that she has finally received registration, which means that financial support from the government will probably be possible by the middle of next year.
Our Loflands Day-Care Centre kindergarten in Strand, where we had sealed the roof after the heavy rain in July, was also affected once more, due to the heavy rain. Since the water entered the building from the side, we have now decided to build an additional wall.
This means that the rain can no longer penetrate the interior. Although this measure was complex and expensive, we can now say with certainty that further water damage is ruled out.
At Bright Future Edu-Care Centre in the township of Asanda Village, parts of the roof structure were uncovered by the wind. Unfortunately, this meant that water was able to penetrate through the roof – but fortunately there was no major water damage.
We had the damage quickly repaired by our workers, so that the roof is now tight again.
Our kindergarten, Kingdom Kids Edu-Care Centre, in the township of Sir Lowry’s Pass was hit the hardest this time. The kindergarten was completely flooded from Sunday to Monday – there was meter-deep mud everywhere. The small stream, which otherwise provides such valuable irrigation services, overflowed its banks for the very first time and destroyed the vegetable garden that was so lovingly created by our principal Zelna in just a few hours. But it wasn’t just the vegetable garden that was destroyed. Water also ran into the kindergarten rooms from all sides. When we spoke to Zelna on the phone on Tuesday, she was crying as she reported the destruction.
Her entire team – gardeners, family and kindergarten teachers – helped tirelessly to clear rooms, areas and paths of mud and to dry everything that was wet and damp. Luckily the sun finally shone again on Tuesday and the clean-up work went quickly and smoothly.
Zelna could breathe a sigh of relief because she had already invited guests to an important event many weeks ago:
Her youngest son Gino has successfully completed his matric exam that enables him to attend university.
Gino is also a talented rugby player who receives international offers – he is the pride and hope of his family.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of all the hard-working helpers, the big Matric Party in honour of Gino was able to take place last Thursday as planned: the kindergarten shone in new splendour and many friends, acquaintances, children and sponsors came to be with Gino and his family to celebrate this big event.
And finally a message about Anele, whose fate we reported to you in the June newsletter: She was shot at the beginning of March on the way to her kindergarten Bright Future Edu-Care Centre in Asanda Village, and was in the intensive care unit for many days and was slow in getting back on her feet. She is now over the worst and her last operation went off well. On September 28th, she celebrated her 30th birthday, which she sees as a rebirth.
We at Golden Sunbeams were able to celebrate this birthday with her at her favourite restaurant. On this occasion we presented her with a cheque, the amount of which was raised through our appeal for donations in the June newsletter. The cheque handover was emotional and resulted in many happy tears.
Anele, together with us, would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated to her. We worked with her to create a plan for the future so that the money is used sustainably and sensibly.
That’s all for today. You’ll hear from us again in November and hopefully with happy news and updates.
Stay healthy and cheerful.
Warm regards
Britta & Bernd