Limpopo storm leaves scores homeless, 90 injured

The province’s MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement, and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu, said on Tuesday that the strong winds and heavy rains also injured more than 90 people. 

Makamu assessed the storm damage on Tuesday. 

"I'm going to talk to my MEC responsible for Health, also to make a turn in the hospital to see how do we encourage and how do we put more resources into the hospital to get these people to get assistance because definitely, it is a disaster that will require everybody," he said.

"I'm with Social Development here, they are coming in handy that they will be able to provide for the families that may need food because some may have lost everything now." 

Makamu said the devastating winds and heavy rains also hit the Mopani, Vhembe, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg districts, destroying several houses, schools, and critical infrastructure, including electricity lines. 

The provincial Department of Education is consolidating a report on the number of schools affected by the storm and implementing measures to prevent any disruptions to the ongoing matric exams. 

"The department is conducting a thorough assessment to determine the extent of damage and provide the necessary support,” said the department’s spokesperson Matome Taueatsoala. 

"We want to confirm that there are no reports of disruption of matric examination in the province due to the damages reported.”

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