Everlate’s family sent to Zim for holidays
JOHANNESBURG – Family of toddler who died during the floods have headed for Zimbabwe
The Chauke family has left for their country of birth, Zimbabwe, to spend Christmas holidays with relatives, three days after burying their child, Everlate, who was swept away by floods in November.
Everlate’s story made headlines in November after she slipped from her father’s grip while in a tree trying to escape the flash floods that swept across most parts of Gauteng.
Her family was among many living in the Setswetla informal settlement near Alexandra who were badly affected by the floods.
The three-year-old was missing for over two weeks and her body was eventually found near the Jukskei River in Buccleuch following a tireless search by rescue teams.
Read: Mayor sends condolences to Everlate’s family
On 7 December, the Chaukes finally laid their daughter to rest at Waterfall Cemetery in Midrand, with the assistance of the Gift of the Givers, which also arranged private transport to take her parents, Shadrack, Cynthia and their son to Zimbabwe, to spend Christmas with their family.
After losing all their belongings in the floods, the only solace they could find was being close to their loved ones during these holidays. Midrand representative of Gift of the Givers, Roslyn Toontas, said the couple, with their six-year-old, son would spend six weeks in Zimbabwe and return to South Africa on 1 February.
Read: Everlate Chauke laid to rest
“They lost everything including their documents. We arranged for new asylum papers and travelling documents for them before the burial of their daughter. This is a couple who had so little but so much strength, they have been amazing,” said Toontas.
“The support they have been receiving from various people has given them strength and kept them going.”
The family was temporarily accommodated with 70 other families at Gift of the Givers Project Higher Ground Village near Setswetla informal settlement. “We will look at alternative accommodation for them near the village because there are other family members close by. We have provided some home basics for them to help them start afresh,” added Toontas.
It would take Shadrack, a painter ,and his wife Cynthia, a domestic worker, a long time to recover their losses. Those who would like to donate anything they don’t use anymore in their homes may contact Roslyn Toontas on 083 446 0070.
