The serene landscapes of Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal, known for its sprawling sugarcane fields, were shattered on Monday as a violent tornado tore through the region, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartache.
Local farmers, who have dedicated their lives to nurturing the land, now face a grim reality of ruined homes and shattered livelihoods following the devastating storms.
Mahan Reddy, a devoted sugarcane farmer, recounts the terrifying moments as the storm descended upon his farm. “We had to look after ourselves urgently because branches and trees were flying around.
“Roofs and tires were flying around; it was important for me to take cover and protect myself and my family,” he said.
The aftermath of the storm left Reddy’s farm and home unrecognisable. Buildings lay in ruins, his house was flooded, and cars were submerged in water.
“Everything is drenched. The whole house has been soaked with water. I am just grateful that we are safe because the recovery of our lives is all that matters, though the path to recovery seems daunting. With communication lines down and access roads blocked, assistance is hard to come by,” he said.
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Recovery costs
Rodney Mbuyazi, another sugarcane farmer in Tongaat, said the heavy rain broke his heart as he could not do anything to save his infrastructure from being destroyed.
“It has been havoc here, this tornado ravaged my farm, damaged my farm, and it’s just terrible. Fortunately, the sugarcane was not damaged but the buildings were. I have just lost my buildings, it’s terrible.”
“One of my roofs was blown away and it flew about a kilometre to my neighbours. I am heartbroken. I am not doing well at all, the repair costs are estimated at R2 million,” he said.
Tornado damage piling up
The broader community of KwaZulu-Natal has also been severely affected. The provincial government reported that the tornado claimed six lives, with extensive damage to households, schools, and infrastructure.
The South African Weather Service had issued a Level 4 alert for disruptive rains along the coast but the scale of destruction surpassed all warnings.
eThekwini Metro was particularly hard hit, with dozens injured and widespread power outages. Uprooted trees, flooded roads, and torn-apart homes are common scenes. In response, disaster teams are working tirelessly to assess damages and provide immediate relief, including temporary shelters for displaced residents.
The provincial government, through the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, has also coordinated the disaster team from affected municipalities to provide temporary shelter to those who may need it.
“Public facilities have been opened as safe havens for the affected communities as the assessment continues. Roads are being cleared using TLBs [tractor loader backerhoe] to ensure that rescue workers are able to attend to the injured,” the provincial government said.
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