Mbhashe Local Municipality declared a disaster following heavy rains with strong winds and thunderstorms that left a trail of destruction in four wards under the local municipality on January 10.
The municipality said severely affected areas were Mpozolo and Msento under Ward 21, Khiqhashe, Mgashe and Mhlahlane under Ward 23, Shixini, Lower Gwadu, Phathilizwe, Mhlabulungile and Xotyeni under Ward 24 and Mevana under ward 29.
The villages had houses that collapsed, roofs torn off, people injured along with livestock and caused damage to infrastructure, including electricity power lines and poles.
In Mevana, the inclement weather claimed the life of a 29-year-old woman who succumbed to her injuries after her home collapsed. At the same time, six other victims were seriously injured and transported to the Willowvale Health Centre with assistance from the community. One of them was later transferred to Butterworth Hospital.
“Officials are busy assessing the damage where preliminary reports will indicate the damage done so that they can be escalated to the relevant departments for the affected families to be provided with relief aid.”
“In the meantime, the provincial Department of Human Settlements is busy facilitating emergency temporal structures to the displaced families,” said Mbhashe Local Municipality executive mayor Samkelo Janda.
