Rehoboth mother to finally get shelter

For three months, Katrina Afrikaner (44) lived on the streets of Rehoboth’s Block H with her two children, aged five and two, with no food to eat and blankets to keep them warm during the cold weather.

Every morning she wandered around the community with hopes of finding something for her children to eat. This has not been easy without shelter and employment.

She came to Rehoboth three months ago from a farm at Gamsberg where she worked for three years before losing her job. When she arrived from the farm, she lived with an aunt, until she moved out due to misunderstandings.

“After the owner of the farm died, new owners came in and I had to leave. I came to Rehoboth to stay with my aunt. Due to arguments, I moved out, that’s why I have been in the street,” she says.

She has since been sleeping on the cold floor with only a long plastic sheet at an open space in Block H.

When community member Stella Xoagus (40) found her and started helping her with food, Afrikaner started sleeping inside the yard of a house next to Xoagus’ residence, whose owner is not always around.

“Xoagus saw me several times and offered me food. Sometimes she would look for us in the community just to give us food,” Afrikaner says.

On days when no food was provided to her, her and her children lived on hungry stomachs.

Xoagus says she had been observing Afrikaner for a while before she approached her.

One day while Afrikaner and her children were still living on the street, Xoagus took a video of them and posted it on social media. Several good Samaritans, including Hardap governor Riaan McNab, saw it and stepped in to help.

With no job or income of her own, Xoagus saved the family from the harsh living conditions and the cold weather.

“I helped them because seeing her lying there with the children in the cold weather hurt me. I do not work, but I needed to help them,” she says.

She urges Samaritans to continue helping the family with blankets, food and clothing items.

Jackson Kanguatuuako, from the Rehoboth mayor’s office, says they saw the video on social media and decided to help as part of the office’s community development efforts.

He says the office will provide an erf for Afrikaner and her children, while the governor’s office provides materials for the structure.

He says the office is currently looking for a place to erect the structure.

“We are hoping to have found one before Friday so that workers can bring the materials and put up the structure for her,” he says.

The governor’s office on Monday donated food parcels and clothing items worth N$700 to the family.

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