Ward 7 Cllr Lois Simonse has shared an emotional message after her family’s home office was deliberately set alight on 18 July, destroying years of hard work and leaving the family traumatised by the ordeal.
In a Facebook post, Simonse said the fire completely destroyed the family’s home office.
“Our home office was deliberately set alight and burned to the ground. Losing all our business equipment and everything we had worked so hard to build is devastating, but that is only a small part of what we lost. The greatest heartbreak is knowing that we could have lost our son,” she wrote.
Simonse added: “What hurts even more is the sheer cruelty and defiance of those responsible. Even as everything went up in flames, they continued to swear at and threaten our son. That is something we will never forget.”
Despite the tragedy, Simonse expressed heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have rallied around her family.
“To everyone who didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand, to our friends and family who stood by us when we needed you most, thank you. Your love, support and prayers are carrying us through some of our darkest moments,” she wrote.
She said the family remains thankful that they are together and that their son survived the incident.
In an emotional tribute, she praised her son’s bravery saying: “Your courage, selflessness, and determination went far beyond what anyone could ever expect. We are incredibly proud of the young man you have become. No material possession could ever compare to having you with us.”
She concluded: “We will rebuild. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight, but with faith, determination, and the incredible support of those around us, we will rise again.”
