The kindness of strangers

An elderly couple lost their home in the flames that raged across Cape Town's southern suburbs - but found hope in the kindness of strangers.

The couple were found wandering aimlessly and only partially clothed in the mountainside suburb of Tokai, which was at the centre of yesterday's flare-up.

Members of the neighbourhood watch hurried them out of danger and took them to the local Tribakery shop, where the owner, Frans van Sittert, gave them food and drink.

Said Van Sittert: "She couldn't walk properly and she was a bit delirious. I started chatting to them and offered to jump over their wall and get their clothes."

But when Van Sittert reached their house there was nothing left.

"I didn't know how to break it to them. Fortunately for me, by the time I got back, they'd found out from another couple.

"They were most concerned about their cats - they had four or five."

Several people have offered them a place to stay, including the management of the Noordhoek Manor retirement village. The couple cannot be identified as their next of kin have yet to be contacted.

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