Latest news with #Willem
Buzz Feed
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Willem Dafoe '70s Pic Leaves Fans Shocked
You know Willem Dafoe. The actor, now 69, made his film debut in an uncredited role in the 1980 Western Heaven's Gate. Of course, he went on to star in a bunch of acclaimed movies, including the Spider-Man films, At Eternity's Gate, Nosferatu, and more. And it's perhaps fair to say that these days, Willem is more widely known for his acting work in the latter half of his career, with several internet users only recently discovering what he looked like in the '70s. Sharing a clip of the actor from a 1975 theatre production, one Reddit user jokingly branded him 'Willem DaFINE' as they praised his good looks. And before long, numerous other people followed suit, noting that Willem — who would've been about 20 at the time — looked really hot. 'He has the swagger and confidence of a man who knows he's blessed by the gods,' one person remarked, while someone else quipped, 'Willem DAFUQ?! 👀👀👀' Meanwhile, a few internet users suggested that Willem looked like a young Heath Ledger back in the day. What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I was celebrating baby scan when my world fell apart – I woke up covered in blood & glass… with my family gone forever
Robin Du Plessis will never forget her husband's heartbreaking words about their baby before life descended into a 'terrible dream' CRUELLEST DAY I was celebrating baby scan when my world fell apart – I woke up covered in blood & glass… with my family gone forever IT WAS supposed to be a celebration of new life, but the day of Robin Du Plessis' baby scan became one that would haunt her forever. Clutching the envelope containing the gender of their unborn baby, her fiancé Willem was driving Robin and their daughter Shylo, just hours after their ultrasound. 5 Robin Du Plessis welcomed her daughter Roane in February but it was with a heavy heart Credit: Supplied 5 She had lost her partner Willem and her daughter Shylo on a day that played out like a 'terrible dream' Credit: Supplied They had been to visit Robin's mother, who was organising their surprise gender reveal party, to deliver the envelope with their unborn baby's sex on it. But just minutes later, tragedy was about to rip the family apart. In August last year, their car was involved in a terrible crash that claimed the life of Willem and their daughter Shylo. Robin, 31, says: 'It was such a horrific accident and I can't believe we have lost them both. 'I then had to give birth to our daughter Roane on my own, and I'm bringing up my two boys without Willem. 'When their little sister grows up, I'm going to tell her all about her amazing dad and little sister. 'I will make sure they are never forgotten.' In the days leading up to the tragedy, the couple were thrilled to be expecting again, and were looking forward to their upcoming gender reveal party. Robin, who lives in South Africa, says: 'I was 16 weeks pregnant, and more than anything I wanted to have a gender reveal party. 'I'd never had one before, even though I'd already given birth to three children, but this pregnancy was going to be my last baby and I wanted to do something special.' Race Across The World pays heartbreaking tribute to show star Sam Gardiner after tragic death age 24 The couple had met in June 2020, and Robin says she felt an 'instant spark' between them. 'After a few months we decided to go for a drink together one night after work, and from then on we became a couple,' she recalls. 'He was my soulmate. My Mr Right. I felt a depth of love that I'd never felt for anyone before. And he felt the same about me. It was as though we didn't need anyone else but each other.' The couple welcomed their daughter, Shylo, a couple of years later in 2022. 'Willem was the most amazing dad,' she says. 'He doted on Shylo and he was amazing to my two boys from a previous relationship. 'I couldn't believe my luck in finding him. It was as though it was meant to be. We were crazy about each other. 'We spent night after night outside our house with a campfire, just talking and looking up at the stars. And talking about our future together as a family.' 5 Robin has described Willem as her 'soulmate' and says he was a wonderful father Credit: Supplied 5 She held her daughter Shylo for 45 minutes while she took her final breaths Credit: Supplied The couple had been trying for another baby when Robin sadly suffered a miscarriage in 2023. 'I was convinced that something had been wrong for me to have lost it like that,' she says. 'It had never happened to me before, and I'd been distraught over it. 'So when I found out I'd fallen pregnant again, the following year Willem was thrilled, but I was so anxious in case it happened again. 'I was scared, but he was convinced it was going to be alright.' Day of disaster Robin told her mum that she wanted a gender reveal party and she said she would organise it. So at 16 weeks pregnant, on August 30, 2024, the couple drove over to the hospital to have a scan. Robin says: 'We'd brought the kids with us. 'I lay on the scanning table and the doctor ran the scanner over my stomach. 'The heartbeat was strong and clear. It was so tempting to ask what we were having, but we asked the doctor to write it on a piece of paper whether it was a boy or girl, and we sealed it up. 'There was no way we were going to spoil the surprise at our reveal party.' In total shock I looked at Willem, and he had blood coming out of the side of his mouth Robin Du Plessis On the way back from the hospital, the couple called in at Robin's mum's house and handed over the envelope so that she could organise the right colour for the reveal. 'We'd brought her some shopping too, and we told her about the scan and how it had gone,' Robin says. 'We talked about who we were going to invite, but I was leaving it up to her to organise. I couldn't wait. 'After a while we said our goodbyes, and we all got in the car to drive home. 'We lived about an hour from mum, and it was dark driving on the highway. 'Everyone was tired, and we just couldn't wait to get home.' The family were about halfway home in an area called Dalmas at around 9pm when they saw some headlights in the rear view mirror. 'There was a car heading towards us,' Robin says. 'It looked like it was coming up fast behind us. We didn't even have time to say anything before I felt a massive bang. Where to seek grief support Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Cruse Bereavement Relate The Good Grief Trust You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling. You're Not Alone Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast. The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism. Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling. Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums. Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips. How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death. 'The next thing I knew I found myself on the road behind our car. 'Dazed and confused, I looked around. There was shattered glass everywhere.' The car behind the family had crashed into the back of them but the driver had fled the scene. 'I crawled around to the front of the car,' Robin says. 'Willem, one of my boys, and Shylo had also been thrown out of the car on impact. 'My other son was the only one left in the car. Just 45 minutes later, Shylo took her last breath in my arms Robin Du Plessis 'In total shock I looked at Willem, and he had blood coming out of the side of his mouth. 'He wasn't moving. I knew that he was gone. The boys were ok, with just cuts and bruises. 'But Shylo lay there motionless. Not my baby too. 'I knew there was nothing I could do for Willem, but Shylo was barely alive. I cradled her in my arms, tears pouring down my face.' Tragic last breath A couple of passers-by stopped by the wreckage and called an ambulance, but for Shylo it was too late. 'Just 45 minutes later, Shylo took her last breath in my arms,' the mum recalls. 'The ambulance arrived two hours later, and they couldn't revive her. I'd lost both my husband and my beautiful daughter, just like that they were gone. 'It just seemed like some terrible dream.' The ambulance took Robin and the two boys to hospital where they were checked over. 'I didn't know if my unborn baby had survived,' she says. 'But they did a scan and the heartbeat was still there. 'Willem had been right about one thing, when he had told me this baby was going to be ok.' Dazed and confused, I looked around. There was shattered glass everywhere The boys had X-rays and scans too and luckily it showed they had no broken bones. While she and her baby were unharmed, Robin struggled with the heartbreak of losing her family while trying to carry on with her pregnancy. She says: 'I didn't know how I was going to be able to carry on without Willem and Shylo. My soulmate and my daughter were gone. 'I went through the rest of my pregnancy in my blur. 'My bump was growing, but Willem wasn't there to see it. 'I just felt numb through it all. What should have been such a happy time was so empty for me. 'I could feel the baby kicking, and wanted to share it with him so badly.' Robin delivered their daughter Roane in February this year. 'Willem should have been there by my side,' she says. 'He would have loved to have had another daughter. He'd been so excited about this baby, and he'd never even gotten to know she was a girl. 'I wish with all my heart that he'd been able to meet her. But I'll make sure she always knows how special her dad and sister were.' 5 Robin says that she will make sure that Shylo and her dad's memories are kept alive Credit: Supplied
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was celebrating baby scan when my world fell apart – I woke up covered in blood & glass… with my family gone forever
IT WAS supposed to be a celebration of new life, but the day of Robin Du Plessis' baby scan became one that would haunt her forever. Clutching the envelope containing the gender of their unborn baby, her fiancé Willem was driving Robin and their daughter Shylo, just hours after their ultrasound. 5 They had been to visit Robin's mother, who was organising their surprise gender reveal party, to deliver the envelope with their unborn baby's sex on it. But just minutes later, tragedy was about to rip the family apart. In August last year, their car was involved in a terrible crash that claimed the life of Willem and their daughter Shylo. Robin, 31, says: 'It was such a horrific accident and I can't believe we have lost them both. 'I then had to give birth to our daughter Roane on my own, and I'm bringing up my two boys without Willem. 'When their little sister grows up, I'm going to tell her all about her amazing dad and little sister. 'I will make sure they are never forgotten.' In the days leading up to the tragedy, the couple were thrilled to be expecting again, and were looking forward to their upcoming gender reveal party. Robin, who lives in South Africa, says: 'I was 16 weeks pregnant, and more than anything I wanted to have a gender reveal party. 'I'd never had one before, even though I'd already given birth to three children, but this pregnancy was going to be my last baby and I wanted to do something special.' Race Across The World pays heartbreaking tribute to show star Sam Gardiner after tragic death age 24 The couple had met in June 2020, and Robin says she felt an 'instant spark' between them. 'After a few months we decided to go for a drink together one night after work, and from then on we became a couple,' she recalls. 'He was my soulmate. My Mr Right. I felt a depth of love that I'd never felt for anyone before. And he felt the same about me. It was as though we didn't need anyone else but each other.' The couple welcomed their daughter, Shylo, a couple of years later in 2022. 'Willem was the most amazing dad,' she says. 'He doted on Shylo and he was amazing to my two boys from a previous relationship. 'I couldn't believe my luck in finding him. It was as though it was meant to be. We were crazy about each other. 'We spent night after night outside our house with a campfire, just talking and looking up at the stars. And talking about our future together as a family.' 5 5 The couple had been trying for another baby when Robin sadly suffered a miscarriage in 2023. 'I was convinced that something had been wrong for me to have lost it like that,' she says. 'It had never happened to me before, and I'd been distraught over it. 'So when I found out I'd fallen pregnant again, the following year Willem was thrilled, but I was so anxious in case it happened again. 'I was scared, but he was convinced it was going to be alright.' Day of disaster Robin told her mum that she wanted a gender reveal party and she said she would organise it. So at 16 weeks pregnant, on August 30, 2024, the couple drove over to the hospital to have a scan. Robin says: 'We'd brought the kids with us. 'I lay on the scanning table and the doctor ran the scanner over my stomach. 'The heartbeat was strong and clear. It was so tempting to ask what we were having, but we asked the doctor to write it on a piece of paper whether it was a boy or girl, and we sealed it up. 'There was no way we were going to spoil the surprise at our reveal party.' On the way back from the hospital, the couple called in at Robin's mum's house and handed over the envelope so that she could organise the right colour for the reveal. 'We'd brought her some shopping too, and we told her about the scan and how it had gone,' Robin says. 'We talked about who we were going to invite, but I was leaving it up to her to organise. I couldn't wait. 'After a while we said our goodbyes, and we all got in the car to drive home. 'We lived about an hour from mum, and it was dark driving on the highway. 'Everyone was tired, and we just couldn't wait to get home.' The family were about halfway home in an area called Dalmas at around 9pm when they saw some headlights in the rear view mirror. 'There was a car heading towards us,' Robin says. 'It looked like it was coming up fast behind us. We didn't even have time to say anything before I felt a massive bang. Where to seek grief support Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Cruse Bereavement Relate The Good Grief Trust You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling. You're Not Alone Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast. The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism. Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling. Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums. Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips. How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death. 'The next thing I knew I found myself on the road behind our car. 'Dazed and confused, I looked around. There was shattered glass everywhere.' The car behind the family had crashed into the back of them but the driver had fled the scene. 'I crawled around to the front of the car,' Robin says. 'Willem, one of my boys, and Shylo had also been thrown out of the car on impact. 'My other son was the only one left in the car. 'In total shock I looked at Willem, and he had blood coming out of the side of his mouth. 'He wasn't moving. I knew that he was gone. The boys were ok, with just cuts and bruises. 'But Shylo lay there motionless. Not my baby too. 'I knew there was nothing I could do for Willem, but Shylo was barely alive. I cradled her in my arms, tears pouring down my face.' Tragic last breath A couple of passers-by stopped by the wreckage and called an ambulance, but for Shylo it was too late. 'Just 45 minutes later, Shylo took her last breath in my arms,' the mum recalls. 'The ambulance arrived two hours later, and they couldn't revive her. I'd lost both my husband and my beautiful daughter, just like that they were gone. 'It just seemed like some terrible dream.' The ambulance took Robin and the two boys to hospital where they were checked over. 'I didn't know if my unborn baby had survived,' she says. 'But they did a scan and the heartbeat was still there. 'Willem had been right about one thing, when he had told me this baby was going to be ok.' Dazed and confused, I looked around. There was shattered glass everywhere The boys had X-rays and scans too and luckily it showed they had no broken bones. While she and her baby were unharmed, Robin struggled with the heartbreak of losing her family while trying to carry on with her pregnancy. She says: 'I didn't know how I was going to be able to carry on without Willem and Shylo. My soulmate and my daughter were gone. 'I went through the rest of my pregnancy in my blur. 'My bump was growing, but Willem wasn't there to see it. 'I just felt numb through it all. What should have been such a happy time was so empty for me. 'I could feel the baby kicking, and wanted to share it with him so badly.' Robin delivered their daughter Roane in February this year. 'Willem should have been there by my side,' she says. 'He would have loved to have had another daughter. He'd been so excited about this baby, and he'd never even gotten to know she was a girl. 'I wish with all my heart that he'd been able to meet her. But I'll make sure she always knows how special her dad and sister were.' 5
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scotsman Letters: Union flag may as well be white after Starmer betrayal
Keir Starmer's new deal with Europe has angered reader Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Yesterday was a day that will live in infamy, as Keir Starmer undid much of the independence brought to the UK by Brexit. The UK will give up much of the fishing grounds we fought to keep exclusively for the British fishing fleet. Soon, Willem, Jean-Pierre and Carlos will be in there, stripping out the reserves we have been building up for years. This isn't for a year, or three years. Not even five years. It's for 12 years! Breathtaking. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Our Army is being shoehorned into a 'European Army', which may well cause conflicts within Nato and the UK will once more be subject to European regulations, but without any say in the rules being imposed upon us. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer flanked by European Council President Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in front of members of the Royal Navy on HMS Sutherland yesterday (Picture: Stefan Rousseau -) The new UK flag is all-white and is in keeping with the new National Anthem (courtesy of Rainbow) which is now, 'I Surrender'! In fact, the only good thing that will come out of this is that the Labour Party will probably never again form a UK government. Peter Hopkins, Edinburgh Land rethink You may find it strange that as a landowner I find myself in agreement with much of what Councillor Gordon Murray says in his letter (19 May), not least that 'Land is not a commodity but the foundation of our collective existence' and that therefore 'the bill must strengthen accountability'. Where I differ is in the principle of the bill, in his words to 'diversify ownership'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I was brought up by my father that, whilst I might own Innes, I held it in trust for the local community, and I agree that it is critical that land should be used to enhance the local economy, but to do so it must be a well-capitalised business. Whilst in no way against community ownership, I am not sure where the money comes from in a community-owned Highland estate to finance the never-ending stream of requirements to invest in improvements, whether to cottages, historic buildings, forestry or peat restoration to name but a few. If you are a proud owner of 5,000 acres in Panmure, one of the few areas of Grade 1 farmland in Scotland, your capital investment is probably highly cash generative, but if you own 100,000 acres in northwest Sutherland you own a cash drain unless you are lucky enough to have a wind farm. The way in which land is managed needs regular reform, as does any market, but the aim of any reform should not be to use scarce taxpayers' money to seek social justice through changing the ownership pattern, it should be to ensure that all landowners, big and small, manage their land in a way which not only turns a profit but benefits the community. The size of the ownership is irrelevant in this respect. In fact, the larger the landowner, the more they can benefit the community. You only need to examine the Duke of Buccleuch's record to see that this is the case. Supermarkets are also a key part of any community, but to provide cheap food, they need to be big. I think it is fair to say that both sides of the debate agree that the bill as it currently stands achieves neither the objectives the land reformers would like nor provides sensible reforms which could enhance our rural communities. It needs a complete rethink. Mark Tennant, Innes House, Elgin, Moray World of statistics The press, especially The Scotsman, have been excellent at covering the conflicting views on a changing climate in articles and letters. However, one thing that the media fails to do is publish two very important statistics. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It should be highlighting, say every month, the greenhouse gases caused by wars and the manufacture of weapons and the rebuilding of the destroyed infrastructure. Then there is Mother Nature creating greenhouse gases with her earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, typhoons and more. This might then encourage readers, viewers and listeners to buy an expensive EV and heat pump and cut down on meat and stop flying and all the hundreds of other things politicians and the climate experts have told us we must do to 'save the planet'. Let's get started. Clark Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian Locals ignored The Scottish Government has approved the Loch Lomond mega resort scheme, in spite of massive local opposition, and this does not seem to be a one-off, with many examples of Holyrood approving housing plans after local council rejection. This shows how little the SNP esteems local democracy, and comes after many years of cuts to local government. William Ballantine, Bo'ness, West Lothian Conflict of interest? The Scotsman reports that land on which it is proposed to build a new Flamingo Land is owned by the Scottish Government's commercial wing Scottish Enterprise (16 May). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lomond Banks development director Jim Paterson said: 'We are delighted by the decision made by the Scottish Government reporter today.' How the situation of a party benefiting from the decision of a reporter appointed by an arm of that party cannot be construed as a potential and perceived 'conflict of interest' beggars belief. This should justify application for Judicial Review. For the future – why has no one thought of this in the past? – Scotland needs an alternative to the Scottish Office Planning and Environmental Appeals Division where a party to the matter in dispute is an arm of government. Such will have to be funded by expense being loaded onto the unsuccessful party and requiring to be pre-paid before issue of the decision. Alasdair HM Adam, Dollar, Clackmannanshire Blind eye Last Saturday I attended the match at Celtic Park and for the last 15 minutes had to listen to constant chanting of 'IRA' and 'Irish Republican Army' by the 1,000 plus (self-styled) Green Brigade. This Saturday I attended the match at Easter Road and was treated to 90 minutes of sectarian singing/chanting including 'F*** the Pope'. This in addition to substantial objects being thrown at Under-18 footballers parading their League trophy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In neither case did I see any action taken by the police. Nor has there been any comment, by the clubs, football authorities or media. Sadly, that is not a surprise. Dave Watson, Edinburgh Weekend bullies Greater Glasgow Chief Superintendent Emma Croft's hot take of Saturday's annual chaos at Glasgow's Trongate was: 'Officers took decisive action to clear the area and prevent further disorder when it was safe to do so.' Translated: 'Officers stood by and let a drunken, drugged rabble run amok, leaving a huge bill for the taxpayers and local businesses, and only bothered getting tough once there were only a few bams left, but silver linings, they were on weekend time and a half!' She also claimed to be working with others to create 'safer, less disruptive way for fans to celebrate safely'. How about at the football ground in question so they can foot the clean-up bill instead? Glasgow on Saturday encapsulated everything rotten about 21st-century Britain: the Green Goblins preceded by the Bitter Orange Rangers Enthusiasts Sinfonietta (or BORES for short) – just happening to stop to play 'The Sash' and bang their drums extra loudly outside an Irish theme pub on Union Street (because leprechaun kitsch is almost as pathetic as their own), while the Gazaristas two blocks down intimidated people using businesses that just happened to be once owned by Jews (a hundred years ago). Come summer, the 'Rainbow Rights' rabble and whatever Eco Death Cult is hip with 'the kids' and pseudo-intellectuals will make their own public bids for that coveted title of 'Pain In The Backside Of The Year'. Whoopee! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For far too long, every urban centre's weekend is routinely ruined by risibly self-righteous recreational bullies in full confidence those in authority couldn't give a monkey's, and if the latter wonder why people now back any shyster promising to reverse it, they are long past seeing how 'the other 99 per cent' live. Mark Boyle, Johnstone, Renfrewshire Get moving Much is being said about just transition, green jobs by the thousand and more. Politicians are talking up these ideas, but I do wonder about the honesty of some of these pronouncements. Wind farms do create jobs during construction, but once commissioned and built very few jobs are maintained – check on the number of full-time equivalent positions in evidence for the Aberdeen offshore wind farm. Onshore the wind farms create few, if any, local jobs as the farms are operated by telemetry from miles away. The much-vaunted carbon capture is unproven and likely to be frighteningly expensive and power hungry. Why the delay on mini-nukes? Other countries are going ahead, Denmark and Sweden have committed to go ahead. Are our politicians too scared to make decisions? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Might I suggest they shut up and get on with the business of sourcing energy and jobs MJ Salter, Banchory, Aberdeen Boom and bust Is it any wonder that What the Hell Just Happened?, the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, received no points from international viewers? It was so bad it wouldn't make the playlist in my local Co-op, and that's saying something. The whole show is so bad Keith Richards sitting on stage smoking a Benson and Hedges would probably have won it. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire Write to The Scotsman
IOL News
24-04-2025
- General
- IOL News
Malvern family faces tragedy after fire claims home and puppies
Willem and Johanna Uitslag are piecing together their lives after a fire ripped through their home in Malvern on Wednesday. Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers. A Malvern family is piecing together their lives after a fire destroyed their home along with three puppies on Wednesday. Willem Uitslag, the tenant, said it was the strength of God that helped him escape the fire after the roof collapsed while he was rescuing puppies from his room. Uitslag, his wife Johanna, and his father-in-law Louie were on the porch of the old wood and iron home when they saw smoke coming out of the room. Their 15-year-old son Willem Junior was in another room. Uitslag said that within a matter of minutes, the house was engulfed in flames. Uitslag said he immediately rushed into the house to get his son out to safety. Willem said he realised that his dogs were also inside one of the rooms and re-entered the home while the fire was spreading. The family has a Dachshund, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane and two Pitbulls. They had nine Rottweiler puppies inside a basket in their room. Three of the puppies died in the house. 'The smoke was overwhelming and the flames spread very quickly. I could not grab anything or try to salvage our possessions. I got into the room where the pups were and grabbed six of them. The roof then collapsed above me. I passed the puppies to a family member through the window. I was stuck inside. I then grabbed hold of the burglar bars, shook them loose and made my escape. God gave me the strength,' Willem said. The family had been renting the home for the past two years. On Thursday, the family were salvaging tools they could find among the ashes so that Willem could continue earning an income as a mechanical fitter. Johanna was emotional about losing her mother's ashes which were kept in an Urn in the lounge. Her mother had died on 23 March 2025 and she was planning to scatter the ashes in Port Shepstone next week. The family had been accommodated by a relative on Wednesday. They are uncertain about their future. Johanna was concerned over her father's health after he lost his medication for Asthma and nebulizer. 'We have lost everything. We stood in the rain and watched the house perish before us. The only clothes we have are what's on our backs and on the clothes-line. We are grateful for the donations of clothes and blankets we received from the community. My child needs to get back to school. His books and clothes are in ashes,' she said. Kevin Pillay Malvern Community Policing Forum Chairperson (CPF), said in terms of community relief any disaster activates the entire community. "The CPF will continue to play a role in whatever they can to assist. We did try and accommodate the family at the trauma centre for the night but they were taken in by their family," he said. eThekwini Municipality ward 63 councillor Chris Van de Berg said he notified disaster management about the incident. Durban Fire Divisional Commander Narend Birjalal said when they arrived at the scene they found one formal house well alight. Birjalal said two rescue pumps, a water carrier and command vehicle with 10 firefighters attended the scene. 'One male was treated for minor injuries. Six puppies were rescued. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The entire house was engulfed in the fire under control in 15 minutes,' Birjalal said.
