A large number of families from Tshituni Tshafhasi in the Nzhelele area were left homeless last Friday afternoon, after heavy rain had damaged houses and uprooted trees.
On Monday, many villagers were still drying out mattresses, blankets, clothes and furniture. Some property was rendered unusable. During a visit by Limpopo Mirror´s reporters, they found some of the storm's victims without shelter. According to one of the disaster victims, Ms Constance Ndanduleni, she lost her four-roomed house during the incident and all the goods inside were damaged. Her house´s corrugated roof was badly damaged and some of the sheets were totally blown away. She is now temporarily living with her brother.
Ndanduleni said that the wind had swept through the village, leaving everyone trying to take cover. Soon, big raindrops pelted down. This was followed by loud cracks of thunder and streaks of lightning that lit the darkened neighbourhood.
The situation worsened as deafening sounds started coming from the roof. She indicated that her house's windows and his son's vehicle's windscreen were smashed by wind-driven flying objects. She added that the walls started to shake and the roof rattled and shook violently.
Members of her family who were in her house assisted each other in scampering to a construction shack with its roof still intact. As suddenly as it had come, the storm subsided, and it was time to assess the damage done to property. "All my furniture, blankets and groceries were damaged and I do not have money to replace or repair them," she added. "I did not sustain any major injuries, but I am extremely shocked," Ndanduleni added.
The spokesperson of Vhembe District Municipality, Mr Matodzi Ralushai, said the municipality was still assessing the damage caused by the storm and the rain.