- The Haines family, known for their dazzling Fish Hoek Christmas light displays, faces separation due to emigration challenges.
- Emily Haines is stuck in the USA while her husband and children remain in South Africa.
- The community has rallied to support them with a Back-a-Buddy campaign to reunite them for Christmas.
Fish Hoek residents are standing together to reunite a beloved family, who through the years brought much joy and laughter to the community with their magical Christmas lights displays.
Since 2017, Emily Haines and her husband Matthew would take weeks to unbox up to 200 000 Christmas lights they lovingly collected over the years (“More than 200 000 lights go on display”, People’s Post, 6 December 2022).
Last week, Emily announced that she was stuck in the United States of America(USA) with her only wish being to reunite with her family for Christmas.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I report that we, unfortunately, will not be doing the lights display this year. Life has really thrown us for a loop and it’s just not feasible for us to do the display,” she wrote. “I am stuck in America while my husband and children are in South Africa… we don’t know when we will be able to reunite as a family. We are hoping to just be together for Christmas, praying for a little Christmas miracle.”
Emigration issues
Matthew claimed that the Department of Home Affairs had not granted his wife permanent residency.
“Because of emigration issues the Department of Home Affairs has not been able to grant my wife her permanent residency and it looks like it will only happen in a couple of years and she needs to work,” he said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice, our hand is being forced because the department can’t get their stuff together.”
Reminiscing about the first time they moved to Fish Hoek, Matthew said the community was very warm and welcoming.
“The reason we started the Christmas lights display was because the community was so welcoming to us, the newbies from America. The whole community made us feel at home, so it was our way of giving back and saying thank you for the warm reception in Fish Hoek.”
Residents reacted with sadness at the news that the lights would not be turned on this year.
“Thank you for the joy that your festive decorations have given to so many. May you have a peaceful and happily united family Christmas together,” a resident wrote.
Christmas miracle
Another resident wrote: “Oh no, so sorry. We will sure miss you this year but really hope you receive your Christmas miracle.”
Emily’s social media post touched the community which prompted resident James Moore to start a back-a-buddy campaign.
“For years, the Haines family have brought so much joy to our neighbourhood with their stunning Christmas light displays, these magical moments brought us together and made the holiday season brighter for all of us,” he said. “They need our help facing these challenging times.
“Let’s show them the same love and warmth they’ve shown us over the years.”
The back-a-buddy campaign which has a goal of R20 000, reached R18 600 by yesterday (18 November).
- For more info go to https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/lights-on-lady-grey-haines
