‘Within short space of time, the ceiling caved in’
Hailstorm causes mayhem and leaves people homeless.
Two families in Thembelisha Phase 2 in Dobsonville houses roof were blown away on New Year’s Eve which left them without cover during this rainy season.
Dinah Zondo (69) two rooms and garage outside her main house hailstorm blown away the roof. She said they were shocked to see dark cloud gathering in the sky and ice from the sky contentiously struck their house roof.
“Within short space of time, the ceiling caved in and the roof of our outside rooms was blown away. The sky replaced our roof and we were shocked when we see the sky while inside our house. We went outside to double check and found out that the roof was really blown away,” explained Zondo.
She said the hailstorm also ripped off their geyser pipes and temporarily shut down their electricity. Zondo said the corrugated iron used for roofing was found damaged few meters away from their house.
As if that was not enough, third house from Zondo’s house belong to Ngubane family their house roof was also blown away. Hailstorm left Ngubane’s two rooms of his four-room house wide open while Khethukuthula Ngubane was away in Natalspruit for December holidays.
“I was phoned by Zondo’s family informing me about the incident and came back the very same day. I found the roof of two of the rooms in the main house ripped apart by the hailstorm. I moved the furniture to the other room for safety as it is a rainy season,” explained Ngubane.
City of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba will on Friday present a report on the city’s effort to help destitute communities following the devastation from New Year’s Eve storm and heavy rain.
He said the city has been working with the provincial government to find a lasting solution for hundreds of houses were damaged during the storm which blew off roofs, uprooted trees and damaged vehicles.
Mayor Mashaba wants an investigation into the contractors involved in building some of the house damaged during the storm, amid charges that most houses in the Protea Glen were destroyed as a result of poor workmanship.
Areas affected by the storm include Protea Glen, Thembelisha, Tshepisong, Thembelihle, Alexandra, Maria Lewis and Braamfischerville.
