EASTERN Cape residents have been left counting the cost of the violent storm that wreaked havoc and left hundreds of families without roofs over their heads.
More than 80 homes were reported damaged by Wednesday’s ferocious front.
The storm tore through King William’s Town villages and Mdantsane on Wednesday at about 4pm, injuring two people who were admitted to Grey Hospital.
Electricity was cut in a number of areas including Mthatha villages. Two churches, newly built RDP houses and a primary school were damaged in Ilitha near King William’s Town, and in Mthatha.
At Mtyolo and Tshabo administration areas outside King William’s Town, 44 houses were damaged leaving homeowners with future repair bills of thousands of rands, mostly to furniture destroyed by lashing rain.
One house in Mtyolo village was flattened and all household furnishings and personal items were wrecked.
In Mdantsane, 43 houses and shacks were damaged.
Grade 11 pupil Ondela Makaya of Mtyolo said her mother and niece were buried in rubble and injured when their home was battered and broken by the freak storm.
Makaya said her books were destroyed by rubble and rain. She said, sobbing: “How am I going to continue with my exams? The most painful part is, when my mother is released from hospital, where are they going to stay? Everything was destroyed.”
In Mdantsane, homeless residents had to be rushed to a community hall where they were given mattresses and blankets.
BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha delivered food to homeless residents yesterday.
Kolisile Maliwa, a 78-year-old Mdantsane grandfather, was devastated when his home of 15 years was left with damaged furniture and walls gaping to open sky.
Maliwa said: “I had only left home for a few hours when I received a call from town telling me about the damage. When I got home I was shocked. A huge part of my roof was hanging on top of electricity wires and there was water everywhere.”
The storm hit the Eastern half of the Eastern Cape just after 4pm. Within minutes it had bashed its way to Mthatha.
Weather SA’s Deon van der Mescht said: “We are not expecting any storm in the next seven days in the area.”
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said storms disrupted Eskom power in areas around East London and Mthatha.
Supply was restored within a few hours in most affected areas but, he said: “We still do have outstanding isolated faults and we are attending to them.”
Police disaster manager Captain John Fobian said there were no fatalities.
Grahamstown is also counting the costs after heavy winds and storms caused havoc around the City of Saints late Wednesday.
Makana Municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramokolo yesterday said parts of Grahamstown – including Rhodes University – faced water shortages after major damage was caused when trees fell onto overhead powerlines between the Howieson’s Poort pump station and the Waainek water treatment works.
She said windows in homes, a clinic, creche and library in nearby Alicedale were also smashed during the storm and high winds.
VIDEO: Tempest victims count the cost
More than 80 homes were reported damaged by Wednesday’s ferocious front.
The storm tore through King William’s Town villages and Mdantsane on Wednesday at about 4pm, injuring two people who were admitted to Grey Hospital.
Electricity was cut in a number of areas including Mthatha villages. Two churches, newly built RDP houses and a primary school were damaged in Ilitha near King William’s Town, and in Mthatha.
At Mtyolo and Tshabo administration areas outside King William’s Town, 44 houses were damaged leaving homeowners with future repair bills of thousands of rands, mostly to furniture destroyed by lashing rain.
One house in Mtyolo village was flattened and all household furnishings and personal items were wrecked.
In Mdantsane, 43 houses and shacks were damaged.
Grade 11 pupil Ondela Makaya of Mtyolo said her mother and niece were buried in rubble and injured when their home was battered and broken by the freak storm.
Makaya said her books were destroyed by rubble and rain. She said, sobbing: “How am I going to continue with my exams? The most painful part is, when my mother is released from hospital, where are they going to stay? Everything was destroyed.”
In Mdantsane, homeless residents had to be rushed to a community hall where they were given mattresses and blankets.
BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha delivered food to homeless residents yesterday.
Kolisile Maliwa, a 78-year-old Mdantsane grandfather, was devastated when his home of 15 years was left with damaged furniture and walls gaping to open sky.
Maliwa said: “I had only left home for a few hours when I received a call from town telling me about the damage. When I got home I was shocked. A huge part of my roof was hanging on top of electricity wires and there was water everywhere.”
The storm hit the Eastern half of the Eastern Cape just after 4pm. Within minutes it had bashed its way to Mthatha.
Weather SA’s Deon van der Mescht said: “We are not expecting any storm in the next seven days in the area.”
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said storms disrupted Eskom power in areas around East London and Mthatha.
Supply was restored within a few hours in most affected areas but, he said: “We still do have outstanding isolated faults and we are attending to them.”
Police disaster manager Captain John Fobian said there were no fatalities.
Grahamstown is also counting the costs after heavy winds and storms caused havoc around the City of Saints late Wednesday.
Makana Municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramokolo yesterday said parts of Grahamstown – including Rhodes University – faced water shortages after major damage was caused when trees fell onto overhead powerlines between the Howieson’s Poort pump station and the Waainek water treatment works.
She said windows in homes, a clinic, creche and library in nearby Alicedale were also smashed during the storm and high winds.
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