By Thabisa Ndzindzwa
Eastern Cape residents continue to suffer from natural disasters as a result of severe weather changes.
On Monday, scores of residents in Kwagogela eMaxesibeni were left stranded and without shelter when roofs to their homes were destroyed by a destructive hailstorm. Residents had to find other places to hide.
Nosiphelele Ngxabi told Scrolla.Africa that the hailstorm, which went on for three hours, left them with unimaginable damage.
“I have six rooms and all of them were left with big holes in the roof. Rainwater started pouring in through the holes,” she said.
Ngxabi had to seek shelter from her neighbours.
“We had to locate neighbours who were not as badly affected as us so that we could have a roof over our heads,” said Ngxabi.
“Having to ask our neighbours for a place to sleep as a family of nine people is not easy, but they have been very helpful,” she added.
Ngxabi said she and her husband are planning to sell four or five goats from their kraal in order to raise capital to fix their house.
Though her husband has not found a suitable buyer, she plans to continue looking, as they have not had any other means to raise funds.
Nosibonelo Dungane, another resident, said from her four-roomed house, they managed to patch a few holes on one of their rooms that had minor damage.
“All six members of my family have to sleep in one room because the other three [rooms] are damaged. Our furniture is going to rot because of rainwater,” she said.
Alfred Nzo District Municipality spokesperson Lixolile Phethela confirmed that the storm completely damaged about 17 homes. He said as the municipality continues to assess the damage, it is possible that the reported number will increase.
“As the municipality, we are able to intervene immediately by supplying them with [mattresses] and blankets, so that even if they sleep in their neighbours’ [houses], they have something at hand,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
Phethela said the municipality plans to send the data that they collect to the provincial Department of Human Settlement. He says the department is in a position to declare a state of disaster and then resume building houses for the victims.
“Disaster relief processes are going at a snail’s pace, which frustrates us because people have to wait years to receive the much-needed relief. People who were affected by the April floods last year have also not received permanent houses yet, he said.
Pictured above: Remains of a car that survived a recent storm in Kwagogela eMaxesibeni, Eastern Cape.
Image source: Supplied
