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Tag: Durban

  • Fire destroys hundreds of Durban homes in South Africa

    Fire destroys hundreds of Durban homes in South Africa

    A devastating fire has ravaged a disadvantaged neighborhood in Durban, a port city in South Africa.

    The Kennedy Road informal settlement was engulfed in flames early on Sunday morning, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes.

    Tragically, one person has been confirmed dead, and there are concerns that additional casualties may be discovered.

    Distressing video footage depicts the charred remnants of makeshift shelters, constructed using corrugated iron sheets, amid the smoldering debris. Desperate residents can be seen salvaging what remains of their possessions.

    At present, the cause of the fire remains unknown. However, eyewitnesses suggest that it may have originated from an argument between two individuals who were reportedly intoxicated.

    This incident has brought immense suffering to the affected community. The South African Red Cross, recognizing the magnitude of the disaster, estimates that approximately 1,000 shacks have been destroyed, leaving around 3,000 people homeless.

    Siyabonga Hlatshwayo, a spokesperson for the South African Red Cross, has described the situation as a catastrophe.

    The organization has been working tirelessly to provide essential aid to those affected, including the distribution of hot meals, mattresses, and blankets.

    Hlatshwayo has issued an appeal to the public for additional donations to support their efforts in assisting the displaced residents during this challenging time.

  • Heartwarming story of Durban visually impaired couple

    Heartwarming story of Durban visually impaired couple

    Deen and Visa Pillay, a couple from Durban, negotiate life and marriage despite the fact that they are both blind.

    Deen noted that he was born in Mayville, had his sight, and went to regular school until he was 15 years old.

    Between 1976 and 1986, he gradually lost his vision and, as a result of an issue with his pupils, become largely blind. This made life difficult for him.

    He relocated to Pietermaritzburg’s Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind. He attended Durban University of Technology to study shipping after high school, and at age 31 he entirely lost his sight.

    “I had to become independent. I had to learn mobility and the surroundings of my house, and that is when I joined the KZN Blind and Deaf Society,” he said.

    In 2009, he met Visa Pillay, the society’s fundraiser and marketing administrator.

    My eyesight deteriorated at 13 years old,” said Visa.

    A school visit by doctors led to a referral to King Edward VII Hospital, where she underwent two operations for a major cataract.

    “I couldn’t go to school. I then went to St John’s Hospital in Johannesburg and they found that I had a retinal detachment. I spent four months in hospital – it was part of my childhood life,” she said.

    “I finished school at Supreme College and studied through Damelin. The start of 2009 was a depressing time, but I had to continue. I had to learn to live in the dark world and adjust to cooking and crossing the road, and the Blind and Deaf Society helped me learn those skills,” she said.

    That year the couple fell in love and married.

    “It was a blind date,” said Deen with a chuckle. “I was volunteering when I met a beautiful woman and I fell in love. I found a job at a special school, and from day one I told the principal that I am a blind man here to lead the deaf. I always say this to encourage people,” he said.

    He sings and dances at church and other gatherings.

    “He is a beautiful singer,” said Visa.

    The couple also work in different volunteer programmes, such as children’s homes, on weekends and public holidays.

    “I use my work as a fundraiser at the society to uplift and motivate people. Some people lose their sight after an accident, and I tell them my story. I also show them how to navigate life in the dark using technology, and I also teach them braille,” she said.