THOHOYANDOU - Approximately 424 families in the Thulamela Municipality area were left destitute, as their homes were blown down by the strong wind that accompanied a big storm last Saturday.

The affected villages include Duthuni, Ngwenani, Phiphidi, Mapate, Maniini, Ngovhela, Shayandima and Muledana.

During the horrific storm, a nine-year-old girl of Maniini sustained an injury to the head when the storm damaged her home. "Some of the schools were also damaged. Amongst them are Shayandima Secondary, two schools at Sikhusese, two at Vuwani and two in the Vhembe district," said Mr Masotsha Mathivha, of the Department of Education. He added that no interruptions in the examinations will take place due to the incident.

One of the storm victims, Mrs Flora Kokoro Matsiliso, said she had been staying at the Mapate village for many years, without experiencing a storm like that of last Saturday.

"I was in the mealy field when the big storm started and my house was blown over while I was looking. We are six, including my grandson, and the Thulamela municipality provided us with a tent, 25kg of mealie meal, cooking oil and beans. "I am unemployed and my damage is estimated to be in the region of R20 000," she said.

Another woman, whose left hand was injured, told Mirror that her four-roomed house was blown over and all the furniture damaged by the storm that was accompanied by hail.

She said that she was unemployed and suffering from a heart attack and epilepsy. She told Mirror that she is now depending on a disability grant. She estimated the damage to be R22 000.

Mrs Sarah Rammbuda said that she was outside when the storm started, and immediately the roof was blown off. "Since I came to Mapate in 1968, I have never experienced this," she said.

The Thulamela municipal manager, Mr Makonde Mathivha, said the municipality distributed tents and food to all the affected areas. Some of the affected families will receive long-term assistance, due to the seriousness of the situation.