Oceana gives homes to nine families who lost homes in devastating Hout Bay fires
The nine families who were left homeless after the devastating fire that swept through Hangberg in April were handed keys to their new homes thanks to a donation from the Oceana Foundation.
The Nutec homes which the Oceana Foundation donated provide a house that is fire and water resistant, and which will maintain a comfortable interior temperature in both winter and summer.
The handover event was hosted in the Hangberg Multipurpose Hall by the Hout Bay Civic Association who had made the appeal to Oceana Group to assist in building new homes for the affected families. The honourable King of the Khoisan, King Kadi was the special guest at the heart-warming ceremony; while members of the heroic local fire-fighting team who helped quench the blaze also made a guest appearance.
"Losing a home at any time is traumatic and the approach of winter and wet weather makes the situation even worse for those without a roof over their heads," comments Roscoe Jacobs, Hout Bay Civic Association. "I'm sure I speak on behalf of the Hangberg community in thanking Oceana for their assistance in our community's time of need."
"For Oceana, working with the people of Hout Bay is important. The solutions we offer need to be solutions that work and that meet real needs of the community," explained Oceana Group CEO, Francois Kuttel, at the handover ceremony. "Because of our long association with Hangberg residents, some of whom work at the factory in the town, we engaged with community leaders and the families involved so that the most urgent needs could be addressed in the best possible way. Generally the Oceana Foundation focuses its social investment in either education or food security projects; as we believe this is the best way to empower communities for the future, but when we heard of the suffering in a community which is so close to our hearts we felt compelled to offer our assistance."
One of Oceana's employees, Michelle Opperman, and her family are the recipients of a new home after the fire left her, her husband and two children homeless. Employees throughout the Oceana Group were also given the opportunity to donate blankets and non-perishable food items to help those families who lost everything in the fire.
"We understand the devastation that a natural disaster like this causes in the lives of those who lose their possessions and indeed the roof over their heads. And we are proud that we have been able to play a part in helping people out," said Kuttel.
