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File: Thunderstorm
The embattled Nkomazi Municipality is assessing the extend of the damage caused by freak storm in Mbuzini, east of Malelane. The hail storm has left a trail of destruction leaving families in six villages destitute.
More than 250 households have been damaged. It is the second devastating storm in the municipality in three months. In January, heavy rainfall caused significant damage to homes, schools, clinics and resulted in five deaths in the municipality.
The Nkomazi Municipality is still recovering from severe flooding that caused significant damage to infrastructure in January.
On Monday, a hail storm coupled with strong wind left a trail of destruction, damaging houses and leaving many families without a roof over their heads. A residents – Siphesinhle Mayisela says all their belongings have been rained.
“I am very hurt by this as you can see, the windows and the roofs are like this, even my bed is wet am sleeping on the floor. This rain started in January and now it’s the second time, the municipality came yesterday but they didn’t assist us they are saying they will give us food parcels.”
Some of the affected residents are pensioners who say they cannot afford to repair their houses.
“This roof is new but now all the zincs in the three room have holes all of them are damaged. As you can see behind me those are my blankets they are wet. At night I had to wake up twice because the rain was still getting in the house,” says one pensioner.
Another pensioner laments, “I’m only earning pension money from government, I won’t be able to rebuild this house again. I need assistance because even today we couldn’t sleep because we were cleaning the water that was getting in.”
WATCH | Over 200 houses have been damaged following a severe hailstorm accompanied by strong winds in Mbuzini, Mpumalanga, with roofs torn off, windows shattered and homes flooded. Watch the full report on the SABC News YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/N6T4LK0OcW
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 22, 2026
Meanwhile, Nkomazi Municipal spokesperson Cyril Ripinga says officials are still assessing the extend of the damage.
“About six villages were badly affected, two-hundred and fifty households that have been identified. The assessment is still going on our team is on the ground trying to assist those families, though the work is a bit hectic for the municipality as we are still recovering from the previous thunderstorms.”
More rain is expected throughout the week. -Reporting by Palesa Sotomela
