The KZN disaster team is providing relief to those affected after a cyclone-like storm on Friday evening left a trail of destruction in the Nongoma area.

The severe storm destroyed schools, school offices, community buildings, churches and Eskom power lines.

Preliminary reports by the National Disaster Management Team after assessments in the Ekubuseni, Gomodo and Holinyoka areas indicate the following damage:

• Eight churches were seriously damaged.
• A total of 78 houses were destroyed and three houses suffered fire damage.
• More than 600 people were affected by the storm.
• Three classrooms at Nhlanhlayethu Secondary School were destroyed, while the storm damaged the roof.
• Electricity was affected in five wards.
• Water supplies were knocked out in some areas after reservoirs were affected.
• No deaths or injuries have been reported at this stage.

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi said his team is on the ground to assist.

“Our team was sent to assess the situation in the Nongoma region. We work with ministries such as Human Settlements, Social Development and Health to assist. Several rivers are full due to heavy rains. We urge the community to be very careful and not attempt to cross the swollen river to avoid loss of life,” said Sithole-Moloi.

The Zululand Regional Disaster Management Team distributed relief items such as tents, water drums and plastic sheeting. The beneficiary list of all victims will be processed and sent to the relevant departments to receive assistance with the replacement of ID cards, prescription medicine and school uniforms.

Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, dispatched an emergency shelter team from the department to determine the type and extent of damage caused to formal and informal housing.

The minister said the main aim is to assist the affected communities to rebuild their homes.