Storm blows down trees and rips off roofs

MBOMBELA - A storm that swept through the city and surrounding areas on the evening of Saturday October 2 caused widespread damage to infrastructure.

The storm, which went paired with lightning, strong winds and a strong downpour of rain, caused prolonged power outages in both Mbombela and White River, uprooted trees and ripped off the roofs of several houses and schools.

According to a preliminary report by the government, a total of 79 houses and four schools had been damaged in KaNyamazane, Pienaar and Tekwane South and North.

Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, the Mpumalanga premier, visited the affected areas on Monday October 4. She promised that government would work around the clock to help fix the infrastructure that had been damaged by the storm.

Mtshweni-Tsipane said it would take at most 30 days to have the 79 houses fixed.

“This heavy storm comes at a time when as a province, we are still trying to recoup from the storm that caused massive damage in February. Working together with the Ehlanzeni District and the City of Mbombela, we will work at the speed of lightning to help these affected families get on their feet once again.”

The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said all affected families who had been reported to be in need were provided with tarpaulins, blankets and gel stoves.

According to Thea Rix of the Mbombela Electricity, Water Roads and any

Service Delivery Information Facebook group, power outages were reported on Saturday in large parts of Mbombela and White River. This was due to damage caused to power infrastructure by lightning, among other things. Some places like the White River Country Estate were left without power for more than a day. The power supply to most areas has since been restored.

In White River, several trees were uprooted, damaging some infrastructure as they fell, and subsequently blocking roads.

‘This heavy storm comes at a time when as a province, we are still trying to recoup from the storm that caused massive damage in February’

> Photo: Supplied A roof of one of the classrooms of Mthayizwa Primary School was damaged in the storm that swept over the Ehlanzeni District on Saturday October 2.

Several trees were uprooted during the storm that swept through the area on October 2. > Photo: Malelane Stene