KZN depts scramble to assist families affected by recent storms

JOHANNESBURG - More than 180 homes have been left destroyed after a severe thunderstorm hit the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

Heavy downpours accompanied by hail and strong winds left a trail of destruction in the uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu districts on Friday in the province.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said that the hardest hit area was Mbulwane, ward one of the uMvoti Local Municipality, where more than 718 people were affected by the hailstorm in that area.

No fatalities have been reported.

COGTA provincial spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila: "The MEC for COGTA in the province of KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has praised the swift response by disaster management teams in providing relief and support to families affected by severe thunderstorms that struck parts of the uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu districts. Fortunately, no lives were lost in this incident." 

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal's Human Settlements Department is fast-tracking its assessment of homes damaged by the recent destructive weather.

Last week, heavy rains and strong winds left a trail of destruction in Emanzamnyama, in Nkandla.

The provincial department has commended Minister Thembi Nkadimeng for setting up a satellite office in KZN and deploying a disaster management team to assist with relief efforts and getting residents back into their homes.

KZN Human Settlements spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya: "A team from the Department of Human Settlements national and provincial will be assessing the damage and accelerating interventions. A verification process will be sped up to ensure that the needs of vulnerable members of society, especially the affected households, are addressed."