More than 50 families were left homeless around the Muraleni, Madabani and Makhitha villages after a heavy shower and strong wind destroyed their houses on Saturday afternoon. Huge trees were also uprooted during the storm.

The victims are mostly from the poor rural area, where most of the people are unemployed

Makhado Municipal Mayor Mavhungu Luruli supplied food parcels and blankets to those who were left homeless. During Mirror´s reporters’ visit, they found some of the storm’s victims without shelter. Mrs Joyce Matshavha, a domestic servant, lost her five-roomed house during the incident and all the goods inside were damaged. “When the big storm started, I was inside the house. After a while, the roof was damaged,” she said.

“I thought of hiding inside the wardrobe, but I became very afraid and escaped through the window.” Another victim told Mirror that she was coming from a funeral service when the storm started. “When I entered my 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 R200 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.

One of the storm victims, whose three-roomed mud house was severely damaged, Ms Emely Matidze of Muraleni, indicated that when the storm hit her village, she was at home with her two children. Together with her grandchildren, they tried to remove her furniture during the storm. Her house´s corrugated roof was badly damaged and some of the sheets were totally blown away. She is now temporarily living with her brother.

The spokesperson of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi said, they had also distributed food parcels to the affected families, including maize meal, cooking oil, beans and blankets,” he said. Bobodi appealed to those whose houses were damaged by the storm to contact the headman or ward councillors to register their damage. The initial estimated amount of the damage caused by the storm is close to a million rand, but observers say it can be more. "We urge community members to help one another and our condolences and sympathy go to all affected families,” Bobodi said.