About 500 victims of the recent storms in Vhembe received food parcels, but more than 2 000 victims are still without food and a place of shelter.

Heavy rains and storms occurred a fortnight ago and damaged numerous houses and blew off many roofs. The chairperson of Venda Muslim, Mr Adam Patel, said that they donated groceries to the value of R50 000 and presented these to the storm victims. 

He added that, according to Islamic culture, they must provide for needy communities.
Executive Mayor Tshitereke Matibe said he was thankful for donors such as Venda Muslim and Spar for the generous donations of maize meal, rice, cooking oil and other items. 

Matibe and the Makhado mayor, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, and the Mutale mayor, Cllr Sarah Rambuda, presented parcels to the affected families during an event at the Muledane Disaster Centre in Thohoyandou on Thursday. 

A victim of the storms, the unemployed Ms  Portia Vele of Muledane Block J, said life was hard “without a roof over your head and food. I stay with my two children, and after the roof of my house was blown off, our mealie meal became wet due to the rain and left me without any food for my children. I am thankful for 
the donation,” said Vele.