Storm hits Mondlo

EXTREME weather conditions brought great distress in some parts of Mondlo.
According to Mr Khonza Thwala, Secretary of the Emondlo Community Development Committee, a great storm that passed through the area on January 27, damaged a number of houses.
Community members say that the municipality only attended to the matter 3 days later.
During this time when some of the people had gaping holes in their roofs.
According to the secretary, two blankets and food parcels were handed out for each household.
The committee complains that although this may have aided the community members, it did not solve the actual issue, which were their damaged homes.
“Their houses were damaged, not their food,” pointed out Mr Thwala.
“Usually in such cases, the municipality takes these people whose homes have been damaged to a community hall or church whilst their houses are being fixed,” he continued.
According to the committee, the municipality has yet again showed great disrespect for their community as they have also still not addressed the issues which were on the memorandum that was presented in October last year.
Mama Nkwanyana, a community member whose house was also damaged during the storm, says that the Mayor Cllr P Khaba, only called them to the sports ground on Saturday, January 31.
There they received the two blankets, food parcels and two small plastic sheets with which they were expected to cover the holes.
Mama Nkwanyana says that these sheets were of no use to those of them whose roofs had been completely blown off.
“The Mayor informed us that those who had been living in informal houses would get RDP houses whilst those of us who had built bigger houses would get vouchers with which we could go and collect building materials at local shops that sell these. The Mayor did however point out that this would take some time,” said Mama Nkwanyana.
In the meantime, while they wait for the assistance they so desperately need, these community members will sleep staring at the stars.

(Photo from stock pictures)