Karin Harmse: A beacon of hope now in need of support
Karin with her husband Anton and their baby girl
Image: Supplied
For decades, Karin Harmse, 64, has stood as a beacon of strength and compassion for children fighting cancer, rare diseases, and life-threatening conditions. As the founder of the non-profit organisation Arms of Mercy, she has given tirelessly — offering not only financial support to families in crisis, but also comfort, encouragement, and hope in the darkest of times.
But now, the tables have turned. Karin is facing serious health challenges of her own, and the woman who has helped so many now finds herself in urgent need of help.
'She pours her heart and soul into Arms of Mercy,' said her husband, Anton Harmse. 'Day after day, she witnesses the pain and suffering of families in crisis and never hesitates to be a source of comfort, hope, and unwavering strength. Her compassion knows no bounds.'
Karin has been diagnosed with a malformed gallbladder, which specialists say cannot be surgically removed due to risks from prior operations. She has also recently developed severe anaemia, with critically low iron levels requiring urgent iron infusion treatments. Further tests are needed to determine whether internal bleeding is the cause — tests which have already been postponed twice due to financial constraints.
'We know this cannot wait much longer,' said Anton. 'Untreated anaemia can become life-threatening.'
Her health struggles didn't stop there. Over the past three years, Karin's vision has deteriorated significantly. She has already lost sight in one eye due to irreversible retinal damage. The vision in her remaining eye is now under threat. Two years ago, she was scheduled for cataract removal and a specialised lens implant to preserve her sight — but the costs proved too great.
'She is in the hands of trusted specialists,' said Anton, 'but time is slipping away.'
Despite these challenges, Karin continues to run a small home-based business while caring for a foster child.
'As the sole provider, I do my best,' Anton said, 'but I can no longer carry this alone. It is incredibly difficult for me to say this, but we need help.'
The Harmse family is now appealing for R25,000 to cover Karin's urgent medical costs, including diagnostic tests, treatments, and surgery to save her vision.
'My wife has given so much of herself to others,' said Anton. 'Now, I am asking from the depths of my heart for compassion in return. Please consider standing by her in this moment. Your support would mean the world to us and could be life-changing for her.'
Anyone wanting to help Karin can visit the back-a-buddy page
[email protected]
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Addressing a crowd of thousands of supporters with a fiery, impassioned speech, McKenzie emphasised the need for harsher punishments to combat the rising crime rates in South Africa. 'Let us bring back the death penalty. If you kill, we must kill you,' he said. In an interview with CNN's Larry King in September 2009, Judge Judy Sheindlin was asked about her thoughts on the application of the death penalty. 'In a clear-cut case, where there is no issue as to whether or not, this was the perpetrator of this atrocity…I believe in my soul that it should be an option,' Sheindlin said. Then King asked the judge: 'Could you sentence someone to death?' She paused, before replying: 'Yes, I could. If…there was no question in my mind that this was the perpetrator…' King interjected: 'You could send him to his death?' Sheindlin nodded confidently and said: 'I could say…'Arrivederci' [Italian for 'Goodbye'].' 'There are certain people who – despite our best efforts and all of God's good work – are wired wrong. You gotta either kill 'em or put 'em away…so that they can't ever hurt anyone else,' she added. Must say, when it comes to hardcore violent crimes against our kids? I'm kinda leaning towards De Beer, McKenzie and Judge Judy on this one. Maybe it is time for a long-overdue, urgent, national referendum on capital punishment for violent crimes against minors? Never mind the special task force investigating 'offensive' social media posts and misgendering online, let's get our priorities straight… In my perfect world, the kids would be a sacred and untouchable red line. A world where our women and children could walk down the street, in the middle of the night – bu**-naked if they so choose – and no one will harm them. Because no one would dare. If we can unite the whole nation so easily behind a football or rugby tournament, why can't we unite the country behind this one simple idea: protect the children, at all costs. Whatever threatens the kids…must be eliminated. And maybe reinstating capital punishment is the only way to end the scourge of violence against minors in this country and restore some sense of safety, security and normalcy in our society, where, as Roger Waters once dreamed… 'Everyone has recourse to the law… and no one kills the children anymore.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
