​​​Marsh, an insurance broker and risk management firm, has recently donated brand new laptops to Huis ten Bosch residents who lost their belongings in a fire that broke out at the Stellenbosch University (SU) women's residence in August.

The official handover of 15 computer laptops took place at Marsh's offices in Stellenbosch on 18 September. The Huis ten Bosch residents who attended the handover included Ntando Chamane, Yusrah Davids, Nicolle Janse van Rensburg, Abby Koeries, Nikita Köhler and Ella van Rensburg.

The roof above eight rooms on the third floor of the residence was destroyed due to the fire that broke out around 19:00 on 12 August 2019. All 164 residents of Huis ten Bosch were evacuated safely and have since been provided with alternative accommodation. No one was seriously injured - one student was treated for burn wounds to her hands, and another for smoke inhalation at the Stellenbosch Hospital.

Willem du Toit, branch manager and executive leader: Corporate Business, Marsh Western Cape, said their company has been operational in Stellenbosch for over 50 years and is an integral part of this community.

“We consider it a privilege to offer help where we can and we feel honoured to be in a position to provide a small measure of support by donating laptops to students who need them. It's our pleasure to hand over these laptops to the ladies of Huis ten Bosch," he said.

“We are extremely grateful that everyone was safely evacuated. Insurance can take care of the loss of material possessions, but life is priceless and we always value that with all of our clients," added Du Toit.

SU's Chief Operating Officer Prof Stan du Plessis, thanked Marsh for understanding the needs of the people they do business with. “We have been business partners of Marsh for many years and they immediately grasped the importance of helping our students get back on their feet after the fire. It was entirely their initiative to offer these laptops to our students and for that, the university is immensely grateful," he said.

Since the fire, SU management, staff, students, community members and alumni have shown tremendous support towards all 164 Huis ten Bosch residents. A donation page set up on the crowdfunding GivenGain platform by the University's Development and Alumni Relations Division, garnered donations of over R49 000.

​Davids thanked Marsh for the laptops on behalf of the Huis ten Bosch students. “After the fire, our worlds were turned upside down and we did not really know what to do. It is the generosity of people inside and outside the university, like Marsh, that carried us through. So thank you very much," she said.

The process of rebuilding Huis ten Bosch started earlier this month. It is envisaged that the facility will be completed and operational in early 2020. 

• ​Photo caption: Prof Stan du Plessis and Willem du Toit are seen here with Kutlwano Malatjie, Abigail Koeries, Nikita Köhler (Prim 2019), Yusrah Davids, Ella van Rensburg (Prim 2020) Karen Swart (Resident Head), Nicolle Janse van Rensburg and Ntando Chamane. (Photographer: Henk Oets)