Severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds that rocked Bloemfontein yesterday – 6 December late afternoon and left a trail of destructions to properties of several people. Numerous houses’ roofs were blown away in Bloemfontein township, Turflaagte.
The natural incident has reportedly left approximately 62 property owners devastated in Turflaagte area. Several trees and electrical poles were uprooted in areas where the storm wreaked havoc. Affected people are lamenting the huge financial costs, ranging from replacing damaged movable properties as furniture and vehicles as well as rebuilding badly damaged houses. The costs pertaining to houses include paying for new roofing, windows glass and doors as well as labour for work to repair their properties.
The storm that was experienced for about ten minutes so, impacted mostly houses in the area commonly known as Valashiya zone, which is close to the Kopanong Secondary School. Some of the affected people had to endure cold conditions due to the soaking rain as they slept in roofless houses.
Recounting the scene, George Mabote says: “My son called me to come back home within a few minutes as I was about to leave the house. He pointed the dark cloud covering the sky and within a blink of an eye, I heard a huge bang, then the entire roof of my house was gone. I am unable to identify any of the roof material. Luckily the car was parked at the entrance of the gate, and it remains a miracle it was not affected.”
James Kumalo and his spouse Palesa, suffered the severe storms and say they made a daring escape with their children as the strong winds blow off the roof.
“We were confused as what to do. It was dark with no power,” says Palesa.
Like most people whose houses were left roofless, Mabote and Kumalo, who are neighbours, too became night watchers.
“All of us affected were guarding against opportunistic criminal elements from stealing our belongings,” says Mabote, who slept in his car.
Mabote in front of his roofless house.
An elderly woman Angela Ndunge says she was glad to be alive after being rescued by her neighbours. The roof of her house was also blown off and the wall collapsed while inside.
“My neighbours pulled me through collapsed window. Its a disaster for me, because I survive on state grant and will not be able to afford to repair the house and purchase new furniture,” says Ndunge.
A multi-parking bay at the Mzimeni Valashiya’s property collapsed due to severe storms.
Disaster teams of the South African Red Cross and the Mangaung Metro Municipality have descended to the affected area to asses the situation.
