A Mitchells Plain ouma says her festive season ended on a sour note after skelms stole all her meat from her freezer which she is forced to leave outside her cramped home.
The granny lives with 10 other relatives in a one-room Wendy house and says all her furniture, including her freezer, is outside because there’s simply no space inside.
Helena du Plessis, 65, has to care for her paralysed 65-year-old husband, 36-year-old mentally ill son, her 24-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, and her eight-month old grandson who she says was abandoned by his drug-addict mother.
Another adult daughter and six other grandchildren also squeeze into the shack.
“I applied for a house on 24 March, 24 years ago. Since then we lived in a house with family and moved from one point to the next about three or four times,” the ouma explains.
“The last house we lived at was with my mother-in-law in Kewtown, but when she died, her grandson got the house and put us out.”
The pensioner and her 10 relatives have been living in the Wendy house in Viscount Street, Rocklands, since 2015, and she shows the Daily Voice how she stores all their possessions in bags and boxes outside.
CRAMP: Rocklands huisie
“Our clothes are all in bags because there’s only space for one cupboard and our three beds. My 18-year-old granddaughter and eight-month-old grandson sleep in my bed with me and my husband, while the rest sleep anywhere where there’s space.
“I’m already so tired of having to look after my two disabled kids, my husband and the baby. I don’t feel I am physically able to do this anymore,” the miserable 65-year old says.
“The living conditions in this Wendy house aren’t safe, there are always leaks and mould in winter and in summer it’s extremely hot.”
Last week was the last straw when a heartless dief stole her last meat from her freezer.
STRUGGLING: Husband Allister du Plessis sits with Helena
“[A woman] was here on Christmas night. She told me she was hungry and had no food to eat. We don’t work and depend on grant money so I bought all my meat to last for January.
“She saw me take out meat from the freezer to give her and then during the night, she came back to steal all my meat,” Helena claims.
“A neighbour saw [the vrou] walking with two white plastic packets around 2am.”
Police confirmed a charge of theft has been opened for investigation.
“No one has been arrested so far,” says Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana.