Several families around Vhembe were left homeless on Friday evening after a heavy storm damaged numerous houses in the area. Five people were reported injured.

According to Mr Matodzi Ralushai, spokesperson of the Vhembe District Municipality, more than 500 families in different areas of the Mutale, Thulamela and Makhado municipalities were affected by the storm. Makhado has the highest number of affected families. Schools, shops, churches and other business buildings in the area were damaged, trees were uprooted and electricity poles were blown down.

At Tshiozwi, more than 60 houses and three churches were damaged and at Madombidzha about 50 houses, a shop and a primary school.

The Vhembe District Municipality has started to deliver tents and food parcels to the affected people and, according to Ralushai, they intend to approach the provincial administration to assist with the provision of tents.

Ms Portia Malotsha Sinugo of Madombidzha, whose six-roomed house was destroyed by the storm, said that she had no place to stay as the house that she trusted was severely damaged. She added that the neighbours’ daughter, Annani Tshisimba (9), who was at her house when the incident took place, was injured when a brick hit her leg. She was treated at the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital and later discharged.