Artist and father of 3 Ernest receives light from Darren's Tip Jar

Loading player...
"Ernest is a sculptor that has worked with the well known Durban artist Andries Botha for over a decade.

Unfortunately their work has been severely impacted by not only the pandemic, but now the protest action too.
They have battled to find substantial work since the beginning of the pandemic, but two projects recently came up that seemed to have turned the tide. Unfortunately, the one was a private commission and that person is no longer in a position to pay for the work. The second project was with the municipality and was meant to be a big one. This will obviously no longer be happening anytime in the near future.
In the meantime, Ernest has 3 children to support. Since the beginning of the pandemic, and the end of all sculptor related work, he has tried to make security gates and bars for people that live in Mayville, around him, but no one is really in a financial position to pay the true value, so he has found himself having to work for very little profit simply to feed his partner and children.
The other issue is that his partner, who has been financially supporting herself, her children, and her parents, on a basic cashier salary, was employed at the Pinetown CheckSave up until last month when she was transferred to the CheckSave in Mayville (to be closer to home). That Check Save no longer stands - it has been ravaged and burnt and it is doubtful that she will have work any time soon. So their only steady stream of income has now completely gone.
And because Ernest and his family did not engage in the looting they are now left with nowhere to buy food or nappies and no money to pay the exorbitant fees people are charging for basic (mostly looted) commodities in the townships.
He and his family are in a dire situation right now and could really use some financial assistance.

Take a listen to how happy he is to receive a call from us.
18 Jul 2021 11PM English South Africa Society & Culture · Daily News

Other recent episodes

The Kickstands are ready for Splashy Fen

The Kickstands joined Darren, Sky and Carmen ahead of the 35th Splashy Fen! They gave us a stellar performance, reminisced on their years of Splashy & even spoke on a song that East Coast Breakfast!
11 Mar 9PM 15 min

uMngeni Interchange partially closing for bridge repairs

If you use the N2 at the uMngeni Interchange, you’ll want to plan ahead. SANRAL has confirmed that construction work will run from 12 March until 15 April 2026, with temporary lane closures and disruptions expected around the interchange. Crews will be replacing bridge parapets and median barriers on the…
11 Mar 11PM 3 min

Can an ancient South African law land you in jail?

Attorney Ashton Naidoo joined East Coast Breakfast to unpack the Sibling Maintenance Law controversy and how it actually works. He also educated us on other weird laws that exist in South Africa, from witchcraft, dying your dogs, and riding horses while inebriated.
9 Mar 11PM 14 min

US-Israeli war against Iran: How SA fuel prices are affected

War erupted after the US and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes against Iran, shutting down airspace, disrupting flights and rattling global oil markets. The biggest question for South Africans is how this will affect our petrol and Diesel Prices – Marius Van Der Walt, East Coast Radio’s Chief news editor…
8 Mar 11PM 7 min