THE KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government has delivered emergency relief support to help victims of last night’s storms which caused severe damage to a school, hospital and over 60 households last night.
The Midlands Town of Bergville is the worst hit by the latest storms.  A High School (Bambazi High School) suffered extensive damage, while Emmaus Hospital had its roof blown up by gale force winds when trees collapsed and over 60 houses suffered severe damage.
15 people sustained injuries and had to be treated. Some of the injured included school children.

A team of Cabinet Executive comprising of the MEC for COGTA Nomusa Dube-Ncube and the MEC Health Dr Sibongiseni Dlomo, visited the affected areas to lead mop-up operations and throw a lifeline to the victims.

At this stage damage is expected to cost millions of rands.  Today the disaster personnel provided emergency relief such as food, temporary shelter etc.  They also visisted households, schools and Emmaus hospital all damaged during the storm.

Other sporadic incidents have been reported in areas such as Jozini and Vryheid where one person was electrocuted.

“The Provincial government has moved swiftly to provide emergency assistance to more the families affected because as a caring government we offer support and sympathy to the victims.  We also want to ensure that speedily we are able to return the lives of the victims to normalcy”.  Said Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

“We will be providing a full report to Cabinet in order to allow the release of funds from line function departments to undertake the reconstruction work.  It is too early at this stage to speculate that the areas may be considered for disaster declaration as assessments of the damage will carried-out in the coming days”.  Dube-Ncube added.

She said a Joint Operations Committee made of the Provincial Government and the affected Municipalities had been established to provide emergency assistance and to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage.