The residents of five wards in Thabong, including New Stands and Hani Park, have been severely affected and many even displaced following heavy rainfalls over the region since Friday 1 May. Repeated and violent storms, accompanied by strong winds and hail have again left a pathway of destruction through the region.

Heavy rains exceeding 100 mm since Friday has affecting the R70 road between Riebeeckstad and Hennenman. Many of the suburban roads and roads in the informal settlements are also mud logged and virtually impassable.

About 500 people from severely affected areas in Thabong have been affected and some 250 were evacuated to the Thabong Sport Indoor Sport Centre.

Added to the list is large parts of Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman and Virginia that have also been without electricity for more than five days. Odendaalsrus has been suffering prolonged outages for more than two weeks. The municipality ascribes this inconvenience to failing infrastructure, the rain, and vandalism.