A devastating rain and wind storm hit the villages of Elim, Mpheni, Vleifontein, Munzhedzi, Maila, Nthabalala and Mpofu on Sunday night, killing a little girl, injuring numerous people and causing damage to a large number of houses in the area.

The three-year-old Andile Maluba from Maila was killed, when a wall fell on her. At the time of going to press, 19 people had already been admitted at the Elim Hospital for a variety of injuries.

On Monday morning, villagers were still drying out mattresses, clothes and furniture. Some of their property was unusable and many houses were severely damaged as the wind swept through the villages, leaving everyone trying to take cover. Soon, big raindrops belted down. This was followed by flashes of lightning and loud cracks of thunder, which lit up the darkened sky.

The grandmother of the deceased little girl, Ms Anna Maluba, said the girl died when bricks fell on her head during the storm. She was bleeding profusely and "she died in my arms, while I was waiting for emergency rescue staff."

The spokesperson of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, said the municipality sympathised with the victims and helped with the rescue effort by issuing tents, food parcels and blankets to those who were left homeless. He said they were still busy negotiating with the Department of Local Government and Housing and the Vhembe District Municipality to help.