Disaster management personnel from various local municipalities in Ehlanzeni District and the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) are on the ground establishing the extent of the damage following last night’s heavy storm and rains in the province.
An urgent Joint Operations Committee (JOC) meeting this morning presented a preliminary of damages to several houses, educational and health facilities, disrupting operations and livelihoods within the Nkomazi Local Municipality.
Yesterday’s severe wind and hail caused damages in four villages, namely; Sikhwahlane, Mangweni, Madadeni, and Buffelspruit in the Nkomazi area.
The destructive winds resulted in over 30 households roofs being blown off.
Mangweni Clinic, Shinyukane Secondary’s School, Phambanisa Primary School, a community hall and a landfill site, roads were affected by the disaster.
The teams are yet to establish any damages or destruction from Bushbuckridge, City of Mbombela, and Thaba Chweu Local Municipalities. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, only two people were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment. The two have since been discharged from local health facilities.
MEC Speed Mashilo stressed that the Disaster Management Teams is government’s efforts to mitigate the destruction and ensure that livelihoods are restored.
READ | Government declares widespread floods a National Disaster
“CoGHSTA, together with local government personnel is ensuring that we join efforts and working closely to facilitate recovery efforts and provide assistance to affected residents. Once again, we wish a speedy recovery to the two who suffered minor injuries“, said Mashilo.
The local municipality and sector departments are providing relief materials to the affected households. The Joint Operations Committee meetings will continue to give updates on the matter. A comprehensive report from sector departments and municipalities to determine the extent of the damage and required interventions will be complied by consideration by authorities.
