Hail storm ravages Masakaneng settlement

MASAKANENG – About 30 families were left in the open when a heavy hail storm swept through Masakaneng settlement outside Groblersdal on Saturday.

The struck residents said it all happened so fast, in less than five minutes, but the devastation was excessive in that some lost everything they worked hard for.

Deejay Ledwaba, a resident, said his house was damaged during the heavy hail storm and that he did not know how he was going to fix the property.

Ledwaba said his property worth thousands of rand was damaged during the hail storm and pleaded with the local municipality disaster management to intervene.

“The damage is quite huge. Parts of my property were blown away. I am now busy trying to fix where I can but it is difficult. The wish is that the municipality could intervene and help following the disaster we have witnessed. We are lucky to still be alive,” said Ledwaba.

Isaac Kgatla, a community leader, said about 30 houses were adversely affected by the heavy hail storm.

“We met with the ward committee and asked for the intervention of the municipality to help those families that lost all their belongings,” said Kgatla.

Simon Makua, Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Communications Officer, said a team from disaster management was sent to area following the mayhem.

“We arranged for them a place to stay but some said they could not sleep there as they feared their remaining belongings would be stolen. We provided relief measures such as provision of blankets and other basics,” said Makua.

The area’s ward committee said they were promised the disaster management team would make a follow up visit there on Wednesday, 12 September 2018.