Spirit of ubuntu shines through after rural KZN community was left reeling by storm
Over 100 homes were destroyed in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal, as severe storms battered the region, leaving families without food, clothing, shelter or electricity.
Many residents live in poverty and in mud-brick houses, which collapsed under the harsh weather conditions.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and minister Velenkosini Hlabisa visited the affected areas, launching emergency relief efforts while local disaster teams assist with temporary shelter, food parcels and clean water.
Ubuntu was on full display in the rural community of Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal, as neighbours stepped in to shelter and feed each other after more than 140 homes were destroyed by a severe storm.
Mud homes collapsed, roofs were blown off, and families were left without shelter, water or electricity in the aftermath of the disaster – and it was the spirit of human solidarity that became the first line of response.
Last week, the extreme weather conditions in KwaZulu-Natal caused damage to 138 schools in 12 districts.
This prompted some schools to halt exams as teachers waited for the provincial education department to assess the damage.
According to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, more than 400 homes have been affected by the recent inclement weather conditions which hit parts of the province for two days this past week.
Ntuli said no lives were lost.
In Impendle, which is 48km west of Pietermaritzburg and 37km north-east of Bulwer, more than 140 houses were affected, with over 58 completely collapsed.
However, stricken residents, many already living in poverty, found comfort in one another's support while waiting for formal relief efforts to reach them.
'This thing (storm) took us by surprise. We thought it was a normal wind because almost every year around this time we experienced heavy wind. To our surprise, the wind was way too strong, and it was only after it had passed that we realised it had damaged so many houses,' said Vusumuzi Nyembe, a resident in the area.
Nyembe told News24 that many families were left homeless and had their food, clothes and other vital items blown away.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/News24
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/News24
He said residents had been able to find shelter through unaffected neighbours who welcomed them into their houses.
'There is one family where there are two children around 20 and 16, but they don't have parents, and they stay alone. Their house was the only thing that they had left, and now they have nothing,' said Nyembe.
Many of the homes are mud brick houses. The bricks are made by mixing sand and water.
This is out of necessity due to widespread unemployment and extreme poverty in the community.
'We've been unemployed for years,' said Nyembe.
'There are no jobs here. We had no choice but to use mud to build because we couldn't afford cement. These structures are not safe, yes, but what can you do? You can't stay outside,' he said.
READ | Disaster teams 'working round the clock' after strong winds and snow hit parts of KZN
Isabel Mazibuko recounted how the wind blew part of the roof off before shaking the walls of her home until the entire structure collapsed last Tuesday.
She said when the walls started shaking, she took one of the children who is disabled to a neighbour's house.
'It all happened so fast. The house had five rooms, and it accommodated all of us. We are just glad that we have another room available to house some of us (family of 12). Others sleep at the neighbour's house and come back in the morning,' said Mazibuko.
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/News24
Sakhiseni Nxumalo/News24
The lack of stable employment and economic opportunities in Impendle has left most residents unable to rebuild their homes straight away.
'At first, we thought it was just passing like it always does, so we didn't panic. But within minutes, the roof was gone, and it landed in our neighbour's yard,' said Bizelweni Ndlovu.
Ndlovu, 47, said the walls of her home then collapsed, and there was nothing they could do but watch.
Her voice shook as she pointed to the ruins.
'As you can see, the roof was still new and had been renovated just two months ago, and this happened. It's sad because I don't have a place I can call home. I'm hoping that the government will assist us,' said Ndlovu.
On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa visited the area.
According to Hlabisa, their aim was to assess the scale of the damage and lead emergency relief efforts.
Local disaster teams have been activated to assist displaced residents with temporary shelter, food parcels and access to clean water.
Many, however, remain without electricity or basic sanitation.
Hlabisa said:
We are grateful to God that in this area, even though they experienced severe damage, no life was lost. It's sad, yes; lives are important and cannot be replaced. We are also very much appreciative to community members who came together, housed those who were affected and provided food.
Hlabisa said he had engaged Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, her provincial office and other government departments.
He said they would compile a report after assessing the extent of the damage, after which it would be sent to the national Cogta department for the affected areas to be declared disaster areas.
'The Department of Human Settlement will quickly move in to assist by providing temporary housing for the affected families. There have been over 100 food vouchers and food parcels that will be distributed to the victims,' he said.
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