Helping a family after their Standerton home burnt down
The Angels came together to help Renske Erlank and her family after their family home in Standerton burnt down.
Renske Erlank, 23, is a Grade 2 teacher at Laerskool Standerton. This past Sunday, she received a call from her mother – her childhood family home was on fire!
Renske rushed home from her nearby flat, only to stand helplessly next to her father, Danie, mother, Louise, 83-year-old grandmother, Tina, and younger sister, Dané, watching as the flames consumed their home.
They tried to fight the fire with hosepipes, but the municipal water supply was down – as it often is. When the fire truck arrived, it too did not have enough water, and a municipal water truck arrived too late to save much.
Tragically, one of their beloved family dogs perished in the flames – a devastating loss amid the trauma already unfolding.
Their only car and motorbike were also damaged beyond repair.
Danie, a dog handler in the local police, is passionate about his animals. The family had no insurance, as they had been struggling to make ends meet over the past two years. They lost everything they owned, with no means to replace it.
Members of the community stepped in, offering food, clothing, and a week's stay in a guest house. Another community member provided them with an empty house to use while they get back on their feet.
One community member said, "Although they have always helped those in need, they do not have the funds to start over again."
After the magnitude of their loss sank in, Renske sent a brief email to Good Morning Angels, as she could think of no other way to help her family.
REQUEST FOR: Renske Erlank and her family
REQUEST FROM: Various listeners, including Alida Reid and Jolandie Prinsloo
ANGEL 1: Sumarie Greybe, Co-founder of Naked Insurance
SPONSORING: Naked Insurance will donate R50,000 to the Erlank family to help them recover after their devastating house fire – part of The Naked Difference. This programme ensures that in years when claims are lower than expected, Naked Insurance donates leftover premiums to good causes instead of taking them as profit.
ANGEL 2: Morné Kok from Snappy Chef
SPONSORING: Snappy Chef will help the Erlank family with a brand-new Snappy Chef two-plate induction stove, a two-burner gas stove, a whistling kettle, and a supreme cookware set.
ANGEL 3: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC
SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels Fund will donate an additional R50,000 to help the Erlank family replace some of the essentials they need after losing their home.
ORIGINAL REQUEST 1:
Subject: Request for Assistance
Good morning,
I am Renske Erlank. On Sunday, 16 February, our house burned down. We lost everything.
Can I please ask for help – any cash donations for food, clothing, etc.? Recommendations for apartments where we can stay in the Standerton area would also be very helpful.
Regards,
Renske
ORIGINAL REQUEST 2:
Subject: Good Morning Angels – Request for Assistance
Good Morning Angels,
I would like to know if you are able to help.
There is a family in Standerton (Mpumalanga) whose house burned down in minutes on Sunday, 16 February 2025. The cause of the fire is still unclear.
This lovely family has always been kind to the Standerton community, helping wherever they could, always with a friendly smile. Now, tragedy has struck them.
The father works in the police dog unit and has his own trained dogs as well. Sadly, one of his dogs died in the fire, which is heartbreaking.
Although they have always helped others in need, they do not have the financial means to rebuild their lives. Over the past two years, they have struggled financially but never asked for anything. They remained positive and never looked down on anyone.
This family has been left with only the clothes on their backs. All their belongings, including their vehicle and motorbike, were destroyed in the fire. They had no insurance. The house, which was in the grandmother’s name, was fully paid off.
Can Good Morning Angels please assist in helping this family get back on their feet? Your support would be deeply appreciated.
Regards,
Jolandie Prinsloo
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