A storm that wreaked havoc in the King Sabata Dalindyebo and the Nyandeni municipalities has left about 50 families homeless and their crops destroyed.
The storm which struck on Thursday’s at 4pm, tore through Mqanduli and Mthatha, knocking out electricity in parts of the CBD and suburbs.
In the countryside, homes and agricultural projects were damaged by the heavy rain which was accompanied by hail.
OR Tambo District Municipality disaster management manager Vusumzi Mgobhozi, said the violent hailstorm had left a trail of destruction in many villages around Mqanduli and Mthatha and one administrative area in Nyandeni.
“Many people have been left homeless, their roofs blown away and walls that have collapsed. The worst affected area is around Mqanduli,” said Mgobhozi.
He said administrative areas near Mqanduli that reported damages were: Mbhozisa, Ngcanasini, Gogozayo, Ezibhodla, Lwalweni, Makhumsheni, MaQomeni, Sizunguzula, Gutyubeni, Kugengqe. Damage was also reported at Kuphendu and Ekhohlo near Mthatha and Ntshaka near Ngqeleni.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said Ward23, which included a number of villages near Mqanduli, was hardest hit.
“Our disaster directorate team is still deployed in various areas affected by the storm to conduct assessments of the damage and to do quantification,” said Mampoza.
No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported.
He said the electricity supply had been interrupted in many parts of Mthatha town and suburbs, mostly in the western areas.
“Electricity is still not restored in some suburbs and villages and our technicians are working around the clock,” said Mampoza.
KSD Ward 23 councillor, Xolile Matati, said seven villages in his ward were damaged.
“The situation in Ward 23 is bad, with about 17 people so far homeless. Six sheep at one homestead were reportedly killed after a wall collapsed,” said Matati.
Mgobhozi, Mampoza and Matati said extensive damage had been caused to mielie fields and gardens.
“The mielies and vegetables that had been growing nicely in the fields and gardens following the nice summer rains, have now been destroyed by the storm. People have lost a lot,” said Mampoza.
He said many homes were flattened while others suffered partial damage.
Kumpendu village resident and security guard, Mzukulwana Momoza, whose two-roomed house was destroyed, said he was lucky not to have been inside the house.
“The walls are broken, the roof has blown away and the corrugated sheets are twisted. I saved my monthly income to build this house and now in the blink of an eye it’s all gone,” he lamented.
His nieces were seen collecting the remnants of his home and possessions.
School teacher Mfuneko Macibe said that roof of his four-room home had been ripped off.
“Twenty-four homes in my village that have been damaged.”
Storm leaves huge damge
The storm which struck on Thursday’s at 4pm, tore through Mqanduli and Mthatha, knocking out electricity in parts of the CBD and suburbs.
In the countryside, homes and agricultural projects were damaged by the heavy rain which was accompanied by hail.
OR Tambo District Municipality disaster management manager Vusumzi Mgobhozi, said the violent hailstorm had left a trail of destruction in many villages around Mqanduli and Mthatha and one administrative area in Nyandeni.
“Many people have been left homeless, their roofs blown away and walls that have collapsed. The worst affected area is around Mqanduli,” said Mgobhozi.
He said administrative areas near Mqanduli that reported damages were: Mbhozisa, Ngcanasini, Gogozayo, Ezibhodla, Lwalweni, Makhumsheni, MaQomeni, Sizunguzula, Gutyubeni, Kugengqe. Damage was also reported at Kuphendu and Ekhohlo near Mthatha and Ntshaka near Ngqeleni.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said Ward23, which included a number of villages near Mqanduli, was hardest hit.
“Our disaster directorate team is still deployed in various areas affected by the storm to conduct assessments of the damage and to do quantification,” said Mampoza.
No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported.
He said the electricity supply had been interrupted in many parts of Mthatha town and suburbs, mostly in the western areas.
“Electricity is still not restored in some suburbs and villages and our technicians are working around the clock,” said Mampoza.
KSD Ward 23 councillor, Xolile Matati, said seven villages in his ward were damaged.
“The situation in Ward 23 is bad, with about 17 people so far homeless. Six sheep at one homestead were reportedly killed after a wall collapsed,” said Matati.
Mgobhozi, Mampoza and Matati said extensive damage had been caused to mielie fields and gardens.
“The mielies and vegetables that had been growing nicely in the fields and gardens following the nice summer rains, have now been destroyed by the storm. People have lost a lot,” said Mampoza.
He said many homes were flattened while others suffered partial damage.
Kumpendu village resident and security guard, Mzukulwana Momoza, whose two-roomed house was destroyed, said he was lucky not to have been inside the house.
“The walls are broken, the roof has blown away and the corrugated sheets are twisted. I saved my monthly income to build this house and now in the blink of an eye it’s all gone,” he lamented.
His nieces were seen collecting the remnants of his home and possessions.
School teacher Mfuneko Macibe said that roof of his four-room home had been ripped off.
“Twenty-four homes in my village that have been damaged.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos