On Tuesday November 21, a severe storm swept through Mbombela and its surrounding areas, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The storm was so powerful that many residents said they had never seen anything like it before.

Wind gusts of up to 78km/h were reported by the South African Weather Services (SAWS). The heavy rain caused low visibility, resulting in a multitude of vehicle accidents when the storm hit at about 15:00.

According to Samke Thwala, a SAWS meteorologist, the storm officially lasted approximately 10 minutes, but within that timespan, up to 20mm of rain was recorded, which is unprecedented. The span differed from area to area, with parts of Mbombela hit by up to 25 minutes of heavy rain and powerful winds.

Several people were injured, including a Grade Two pupil of a local school. The incident occurred when a tree was uprooted and landed on the vehicle she was an occupant of. She was admitted to a local hospital where she is currently being treated. Further details surrounding the incident and the extent of her injuries were not known at the time of publishing.

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In a separate incident, a man sustained injuries to his back and head when debris from a collapsed roof in Anderson Street fell on him. He was discharged from hospital on the same day. Hi-Tech Medical Service’s Bheki Radebe told Lowvelder on the scene that the man was engaging in suspicious activities in one of the flats when the incident occurred.

According to Emer-G-Med’s Martin Jeffrey, three vehicle accidents occurred during the storm. Nine people suffered minor injuries.
One accident occurred at the intersection of Henshall and Brander streets, another on the R40 near the Plaston turn-off, and a third on the R40 near the White River Country Club turn-off.

The storm damaged cars and infrastructure, uprooted trees and ripped roofs off buildings. While the damage is visible across the region, the spokesperson for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Lindiwe Msibi, said a disaster team is still assessing the damage. She said the team is on the stand-by to assist where needed.

With many of the roads in Mbombela covered in debris, the resilience and determination of the city’s non-profit organisations and community members became evident almost immediately after the storm, when they joined hands to ensure most roads were cleared before 20:00 that same evening.

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Nelspruit’s Concerned Citizens, AfriForum, We Care 4 Nelspruit, and Mbombela Fire and Rescue were visible at the affected areas.
SAWS said that the storm was predicted. The heatwave currently experienced in the area is expected to last until the end of the week.
The Mpumalanga MEC for Cogta, Mandla Msibi, issued a statement earlier this week, warning residents to be on high alert as the province expects further heavy rainfall.

“We urge our communities to monitor the weather patterns as well as the water levels at water resources daily. Furthermore, we urge our communities not to put their lives in danger by crossing water resources, including submerged bridges. We can save more lives if we work together,” Msibi said.

According to Cogta, it will continue to provide the public with early warning alerts through all existing communication platforms.
“The provincial and local disaster management teams are on high alert and on standby to assist communities in distress. People are advised to take precautions, especially those who are living in low-lying areas. Motorists are advised to drive cautiously when the roads are slick in order to avoid accidents,” he said.

Residents are advised to call the Disaster Management Centre toll-free number on 0800 202 507 in the event of flooding.