Bring Peter (Wandi) home

Peter Louw affectionately known as Wandi left South Africa in 2013, wanting to explore a different environment and do what he loves helping to shape little minds. He taught English in Thailand for the past 5 years, this enabled him to send money home on a regular basis. His mom is an ex nurse now retired and staying in Alabama, Klerksdorp. Wandi was a one of a kind person, loyal and committed as a friend, strict as a brother and caring as a son. He planned on returning home for good this November 2019, having not visited South Africa once during the time he has been teaching in Thailand. About 2 months ago, Wandi who was normally quite active on social media platforms such as Facebook and istagram disappeared from the face of the earth. His family launched an investigation with the South African embassy in Thailand regarding his whereabouts where they were informed that Wandi was 1 of 6 Teachers from various countries who was detained for not having the proper visa documents. I received a call from Wandi on Wednesday, 16 October where he relayed details of his 2 month horrible experience in the Thai prison however they were in the process of deporting him back to South Africa. He told me that he was so malnourished and only weighed 35 kg. Wandi was always of slender build but 35 kg's for grown man proved to be fatal. We made plans for him to fly directly to Cape Town and to stay with me for 2 months so that he could recover and gain his strength before he returned to Klerksdorp. He at all cost did not want to worry his Mom by returning home after 6 years of absence looking like a sack of bones. Sadly tragedy strike and I received the horrible, unthinkable news on Tuesday, 22 October that Peter had passed away that morning in the detention centre. The official word from the South African embassy was that it was pneumonia. We are devastated. We have been begging Peter (Wandi) to come home and now he is coming but not the way any one of us could foresee.

Getting him home is a major financial challenge. The mortuary in Thailand where he has been kept since 22 October requires 100 000,00 Baht (R50 000,00) to release his body. Peter's mom was financially dependent on him and his sister has 3 children who she is responsible for. They are unable to even comprehend how they will fund the repatriation of Peter's body back home to South Africa. They only have the next week to try and come up with the necessary funds before Peter's body will be cremated and dispose off as if he never existed. This is unthinkable and extremely stressful for his mother that has not seen her son for the past 6 years and needs closure and the opportunity to say goodbye to her son.

Should we manage to raise enough money to get his body to Oliver Tambo, his body still needs to be transported to Klerksdorp and he needs to be laid to rest.

We humbly request any monetary assistance to make all of this a reality. Wandi always use to say in response to unexpected events "its a hell of a thing". And I know he is saying this now where ever he is.

Please support the LOUW Family in bringing their son, brother, our friend home and lay him to rest as he rightfully deserve.

We humbly request that all donations rather be deposited directly into the following account:

Name of account: Wandi funeral

Account Number: 1619932472

Bank : Capitec

Branch: Klerksdorp

God bless each and every one of you who will open up your hearts and pockets to make this a reality.