Sudden heavy rains accompanied by strong winds caused significant damage in Dopeni village in Nzhelele on Monday afternoon, leaving several families homeless and disrupting electricity supply and schooling in the area.
Residents said the storm was brief but intense. Although it did not last long, the combination of strong winds and heavy downpours caused widespread damage to houses and basic infrastructure.
One of the affected residents, 65-year-old Tshibavhalemba Daisy Mushaisana, said she lives with her two grandchildren and relies solely on a social grant. Her two-room house was damaged during the storm.
“I stay with my two grandchildren and depend on my grant. I don’t have any other income. My plan is to save money and buy new poles and zinc so that I can repair the damage,” Mushaisana said.
Nearby, 52-year-old Maria Chauke also suffered losses. Chauke lives in an RDP house but had built an outside room to accommodate her son because the main house could not house all her five children. The storm washed away one wall of the outside room, rendering it unsafe.
The heavy rains also left several villages in the Nzhelele Valley without electricity, while learning was disrupted at a number of local schools. Pupils were sent home early due to unsafe conditions.
The latest incident comes weeks after severe flooding in the Vhembe region, in which several people died, homes were destroyed, and bridges were washed away following persistent heavy rains.