2008/12/30
VILLAGERS are counting the cost of the violent storm that flattened houses, killed livestock and destroyed belongings as it tore through King William’s Town and surrounding areas on Sunday.
In villages like Xhukwana in Debenek, about 70 houses were destroyed by the storm.
Villagers lost livestock, electrical appliances, and furniture, and some have started to rebuild their damaged homes.
In Ndevana township, outside King William’s Town, Nontsasa Tyakume said her damage was close to R80000 after her eight-roomed house was ripped apart by the strong winds.
“I was in church and the next thing I received a call that my house’s roof was blown off,” she said.
“T he quotation I got from builders is that I have to pay R80000. I don’t know who is going to help me.”
Tyakume’s neighbour, Fumanekile Bonani, has to find R25000 to fix damage to his house.
“The storm took only five minutes but it left thousands of rands of damages. we hope the municipality can assist us. I have to rebuild the walls and the roof and I don’t have money,” he said.
Nkonkobe Municipality disaster management official Vuyokazi Jamda said a team was assessing damage that affected mostly villages under their municipality.
“Once the damage has been assessed the affected households will receive building material to rebuild their homes,” said Jamda.
Some villagers at Zalaze in the King William’s Town area lost livestock.
Elderly Thandiwe Bulawa lost about seven sheep. “I am not working, I am a pensioner and depend mostly on these sheep to sell to get something to eat,” she said.
“I am now left with nothing as I was planning to sell some to send the children back to school next year.”
The storm also affected electricity supplies, leaving the whole area of King William’s Town and the surrounding townships without power for two days.
When a Daily Dispatch team visited the area, Eskom workers could be seen fixing broken lines.
Eskom’s acting communication manager Zama Mpondwana said technicians had returned supply to the Hofmeyer, Steynsburg and Brakfontein areas.
“Areas that are still affected are King William’s Town, Alicedale, Paterson, Salem and the Seven Fountains farming community. In some areas electricity poles were broken. We appeal to all electricity consumers to be patient with us. We are working around the clock to bring back the supply to the outstanding areas,” said Mpondwana. “I t is very important that the communities don’t touch the electricity lines but report faults and interruptions to Eskom toll free numbers.” - By BONGANI FUZILE
Crime Reporter
Phone 0860037566 or SMS messages to 0846555778, 0829413707 and 0836471951.
|