A flood of help after rains

Rand Aid management, staff members and their families worked through the night after the recent flooding forced the evacuation of 59 residents of the Ron Smith Care Centre from their rooms.

Resident Jill Jones of the Rand Aid-run care centre spoke on behalf of fellow residents, saying that they would like to thank staff and management from the bottom of their hearts for the rapid response.

“When the recent floods occurred and all the ground floor residents were evacuated to the hall, all the staff – from management downwards – were here working past midnight mopping and cleaning up.

“They made a huge effort and our rooms were spotless when they had finished, after being filled with water, mud and debris just a few hours before,” says Jill.

“Everyone was amazing,” says Wim Pieterse, Rand Aid’s GM of Finance. “They all just climbed in.

“The footbridge over the Jukskei River between Tarentaal and Ron Smith Care Centre was washed away, and with that all our connections. Our security and computer systems were affected and we had to install wireless dishes,” explains Wim.

In addition, fencing and security cameras were washed away but have since been reinstalled.

A team of Rand Aid workers spent days removing rubble and debris from the Jukskei River once the more pressing work had been done.