"Fist-sized" hail damages 500 houses in Ladysmith
More than 500 houses have been damaged in Ladysmith by "fist-sized" hail stones, the KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance department said on Monday.
The storm hit the Akasia area of Ladysmith on Sunday evening, spokesman Lennox Mabaso said.
Officials were en route to assess the damage.
"The size of the hail stone was the size of your fist," Mabaso said.
No deaths or injuries had been reported, although an unknown number of families had been forced to take shelter in a local school hall.
Mabaso warned that the province should continue to brace itself for inclement weather.
"We have no prediction of any area, but there is a constant change in weather conditions and we will constantly advise people as it changes."
The public had to make sure their homes were safe and find out whether they lived on a flood plain.
Mabaso said people had to keep contact details for local authorities, including traditional leaders.
"You must be able to know who to contact in a case of emergency. When it rains, don't just sit and pretend it's normal," he said.