A 29-year-old unemployed woman has been left confused and helpless, after the roof of her two-roomed house was swept away by the wind. The incident happened at Gondeni la Ha Mabilu on Friday morning.

Tshinanne Rathogwa (29) said she was busy cooking at around eleven in the morning when the wind gathered around her homestead. She said she did not take it seriously, as she thought it had subsided, but was alarmed to hear the sound of her falling roof.

The unemployed mother of four said she was very shocked to see her only house left without a roof. “I was confused and helpless, but I regained strength and phoned the local traditional leader, the ward councilor and the local civic structure, with the hope that they would come to my rescue, but so far nothing has changed,” she said.

Rathogwa said none of the leaders she called for assistance has so far responded and they have not bothered to find out if somebody was hurt. She is now furious and sad. “I thought these people were my leaders who would be there when we needed them, but it seems as if they only know us when they need support from the community,” she said.

Rathogwa, who survives on grants, said she did not have any money to put back or repair the damaged roof. “I have heard that there is a disaster section at the municipality which could help, but the councilor who represents the municipality here is not even concerned about our well-being, she is only concerned about our votes and that is all,” she said.

The local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho Zwithuzwavhudi Mabilu, said he was surprised that the woman had run to the newspapers without first consulting him. “There must be a problem with her. I cannot figure out what is wrong with her, but she should come back to me and we will see how we can assist her,” he said.

Attempts to contact the councillor for Ward 29, Mashudu Dombo, were fruitless, as her phone was always on voice mail.

The spokesperson for the municipality, Mr Nndwamato Tshiila, said the woman was supposed to have come to their offices if the councilor was not assisting her. “Our offices are not far from Mirror’s offices, but she chose to go to the newspaper, instead of reporting the matter to us,” he said.

He said their doors were still open; she was free to come and present her case and they would see how to help her.