TSHAULU – Nearly 300 families of Tshaulu Village and the surrounding area were left stranded when a big storm, accompanied by rain, damaged their homes and infrastructure earlier this week.

A disaster victim, Mrs Lusani Mavhina, told Mirror that she was coming from a funeral service when the storm started. “When entering my one-roomed house, the storm blew the roof off and I was left in the roofless ruin,” she said. “All my furniture and other equipment, valued at more than R5 000, were damaged and I do not have money to replace or repair them,” she added. “I did not sustain any major injuries, but I am extremely shocked,” she added.

Mrs Mavhina is now staying in a tent with her sister, Mrs Mphambanyiseni Sivhetha, and four children. Mrs Mphambanyiseni’s three-roomed abode was also blown away and accommodating her sister is a sacrifice, as she does not have enough space.

Mrs Rendani Mavhina was also left homeless when her three-roomed house was wrecked and all the goods were drenched and torn when the roof was blown away. She lost goods to the value of more than R5 000.

Mrs Ivy Mphephu, a domestic servant, lost her two-roomed house during the incident and all the goods inside were damaged. “When the big storm started, I was inside the house and after a while the roof was damaged,” she said. “I thought of hiding inside the wardrobe, but I became very afraid and I escaped through the window.”

A spokesperson of the Thulamela Municipality, Mr Ndwamato Tshiila, said that they have already distributed ten tents to the seriously efected families. “We have also distributed food parcels to the affected families, including mealy meal, cooking oil, beans and blankets,” he said.

“We have also decided to build houses for the affected families, as soon as the Department of Local Government and Housing allocates housing units to our municipality,” said Mr Tshiila. He further said that the municipality is now working hand in hand with the Tshaulu Civic Association to assis the affected families. “In some areas, it was difficult to put up the tents, due to the wet soil,” he said.

Tshaulu and the surrounding areas have been declared a disaster area, seeing that each and every year these villages are victims of strong winds and heavy showers.