07/02/2026
As many of you know, the past three years have tested us in every possible way. We poured every cent, every ounce of energy and every bit of our hearts into building the theatre. Creating a space for music, connection and community.
After the Odyssey setback, we took out loans and started again for the third time, this time at the Centre of Design. Along the way, we made lifelong friends, felt immense love and encouragement and were constantly reminded why community matters so deeply.
Despite giving it everything we had, the challenges became too great and at the beginning of this year we were forced to close The Lyric Lounge permanently.
We have been surviving purely through the kindness of others, with temporary places to stay, meals shared, hands reaching out when we had nothing left to give. When that arrangement came to an end and we found ourselves with overwhelming debt and no income, my mother-in-law offered us the use of a small home on her property in Mpumalanga. It was a humbling and deeply grateful moment.
Most of our children and grandchildren, live in Gauteng, relatively close to my mother-in-law’s home. Recently, we were blessed with the birth of twin grandsons. Sadly, one of the little boys has ongoing health complications and remains in hospital. This made our decision to relocate closer to family even more urgent.
With no funds available, we began selling whatever we could just to afford fuel. Using our car and a borrowed small trailer, we slowly transported what remained of our belongings between Ballito and Mpumalanga.
On Wednesday, 4 February, while returning to Ballito to collect the last of our things, our car overheated outside Greytown. Because it is an automatic vehicle, it had to be transported by low-bed to a workshop. Once again, kindness carried us through. Our dear friend Luther Moodie immediately drove from Ballito to collect us, took us into his home and he and his lovely wife, Dominique, fed us, calmed us and later even offered us the use of his bakkie so we could get back home.
On Thursday afternoon, we received the workshop’s quote:
R33,000 to repair the car. In addition, the workshop will now charge daily storage fees for each day the vehicle remains there. This has placed us in an extremely urgent and distressing position.
We are shattered. We simply do not have the means to cover this cost.
Right now, our car is our only lifeline, for work opportunities, for supporting family, for hospital visits and for rebuilding our lives. Without it, we are completely stuck.
As difficult as it is to ask, we have reached the point where we have no option left but to appeal to the kindness of others.
If you are able to contribute in any way — no matter how small — you would be helping us regain mobility, dignity and the ability to move forward. If you’re not in a position to give, sharing this message would help us reach others who may be able to.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with us during one of the hardest chapters of our lives.
With gratitude,
Morne & Moira
