The community members of Masia Village in the Hlanganani area were left shocked and stunned when a pregnant woman was killed by a flying piece of corrugated iron during a heavy storm that destroyed or damaged more than 60 houses last Thursday.

According to a report, Mrs Mavis Rivombo was coming home from work at about 17:00, when the heavy rain storm, accompanied by a surging wind, started. Near her home, she was hit and killed by a piece of corrugated iron. The one-roomed shack was blown away by the storm.

Many families in the Hlanganani area were left homeless and are now only staying in the tents which the Makhado Municipality, in collaboration with the Vhembe District Municipality, provided to them.

A spokesperson for the Vuwani police, Insp Elijah Malatjie, confirmed the death of Mrs Rivombo and said that they had opened an inquest docket.

The villages within the Makhado Municipality that were affected by the storm are Masia, Mashau Thenga, Majosi, Bungeni, Madobi Makhasa, Sereni, Ntsuxi, Tiyani, Rhibungwani, Magoro, Nwamatatani, Masakona and Mashamba.

According to the spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, they have allocated tents and food parcels to the affected families.

He added that, with regard to the family of Mrs Rivombo, the municipality was also going to ensure that the deceased received a decent burial with the little resources they have, though they do not have a specific budget for it.

At the time of going to press, approximately 60 families were receiving help, but the disaster management officers from Makhado Municipality and the Vhembe District are still continuing with the damage-assessment process. 

The mayor of Makhado Municipality visited Rivombo’s bereaved family on Tuesday to offer support. During her visit, Mashaba, who was also touched by the conditions the Rivombo family is living in, indicated that the municipality would also assist in ensuring that the children are taken care off.

She further acknowledged that there was a need of an RDP house for the Rivombo family and other affected families as well. “We are also going to prioritize the process of the issuing of RDP houses, so that the families that are affected by storm are also catered for,” pledged Mashaba, adding that businesspeople should also assist those affected.

Apart of the houses that were destroyed, shops, churches and schools were damaged as well. In some areas, there was no electricity as the poles were destroyed by the storm.

 According to Ms Bridgette Baloyi of Majosi village, whose house was also destroyed by storm, all her furniture, as well as the food in her house, were damaged or washed away by the storm and heavy rains. When asked to try and explain how it happened, Baloyi indicated that it was just like a dream. “I thought it was not happening at all. It happened so fast and unexpectedly. I only felt that I was getting wet and when I looked up at the roof, there was nothing above our heads,” she indicated sadly.

Mrs Rivombo is survived by two sons, aged eleven and two years old. She will be buried at the Masia Tandavhalwe Siawoadza cemetery tomorrow (Saturday).