Just two weeks before the Christmas, Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality got hit by the storm, though most damages were within electricity poles, wires and cables around the municipality, still the moment struck to the core within the Ntsethe family in ward 30 at Mpenkulu.
The storm took place on the 14th of December 2021 in the evening, that’s when this family watched their two-bedroom house falling, followed by a one room next to it, binding all their belongings including groceries and the meter box. This family of 16 was left with no choice but to press in a licking one room, “If it wasn’t for the shack that we built out of the roof of these fallen structures I don’t know how we would be coping as we take turns when it’s bath time” said Phumeza Ntsethe (a 20 year old daughter of that family) explaining to Pondoland Times, how others wait by the shack that is also used as a kitchen, while one is taking bath on the other room.
Ms Ntsethe, who use to reside out of town for work purposes and also have her own apartment nearby have not left her sister’s house as she was there during the incident, she says she is unable to leave the children alone in such a situation, she went on and said “in all that we have lost, we are only asking for assistance with place to stay, it’s not easy to rely on this room after losing a houses we trusted. We are still waiting for Disaster Management, the issue was reported the before Christmas, we were told that they are going to come over to see the disaster, we haven’t seen them”
Pondoland Times tried to contact the Disaster Management in attempt to find out the progress of this case, spoke to a Miss Amanda, a public servant who was assisting the Ntsethe family. Amanda referred us to Mr Phethela their Media liaison officer as they are not allowed to talk to the media but we had no luck in reaching him.
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