LIMPOPO – About forty homes in Phalaborwa have been damaged with some declared uninhabitable after a severe hailstorm hit the area on Sunday night and in the early hours of Monday morning.

In Selwane, 11 homes have reportedly been damaged, another 11 houses in Mashishimale, and seven in Majeje.

The storm also caused extensive damage to power lines, leaving several areas without electricity, particularly in the Lulekani area. Essential services such as water supply were interrupted.

According to Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality spokesperson, Jonas Mahesu, all 17 wards are affected in one way or another, except for two wards in town.

“In most of the cases, roofs were swept away by strong winds. Our team, led by Mayor Merriam Malatji, will donate food, blankets and other essential items to assist residents in the meantime. We have sent an assessment report to the Mopani District Municipality (MDM) which will decide whether to declare a state of disaster or not,” Mahesu explained.

On Monday morning Malatji and members of Ba-Phalaborwa’s council visited some of the affected families in Selwane, including a spaza shop.

At one house a room was destroyed after the roof was swept away and the furniture damaged. The storm also affected Giyani where the roof of Kutsakeni Primary School in Gandlanani was destroyed.

In the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, nine villages were affected including two schools, and in the Greater Letaba Municipality, about 14 families were affected.

MDM spokesperson, Odas Ngobeni, said they have sent a team to the affected villages to assist with essential provisions including tents, food and blankets.