A series of violent storms, characterized by hail and powerful winds, has caused extensive damage across parts of Mpumalanga, destroying homes, knocking out electricity, and damaging roads. The Pienaar township outside Mbombela is among the hardest-hit areas, with numerous houses left uninhabitable.
The devastation began on New Year’s Eve, December 31, when a severe hail and wind storm tore through the community. For many residents, what should have been a hopeful start to the new year has become a fight for basic shelter and survival.
One resident, Thomas Mashile, recounted the traumatic night that left his family’s home in ruins. The storm ripped the roof completely off the house he cares for on behalf of his aunt, who lives elsewhere. Everything inside was exposed to the elements.
“The house has nothing inside,” said a reporter on the scene, describing the sodden interior. “The bed… the cupboards… they are wet. The clothing, everything in this house is soaking wet.”
Mashile described a desperate and ongoing struggle. Temporary covers provided to shield the open structure were themselves damaged by subsequent rainfall, worsening the flooding. The family has been unable to sleep since the disaster struck.
Compounding the crisis, Mashile is unemployed and now faces an immediate struggle to provide food and safe shelter for his household.
“They don’t know where they’re going to sleep. They don’t know what they’re going to eat because everything now it’s wet,” the reporter stated, summarizing Mashile’s dire situation.
The family’s trauma is deepened by a recent personal tragedy. Mashile revealed that his wife recently underwent a Caesarean-section operation, and the child subsequently died in December. In the aftermath of the storm, his wife, still recovering from surgery, is unable to stand in the floodwaters, adding a layer of physical pain and helplessness to the catastrophe.
The scene in Pienaar is not isolated. Disaster management teams in the Mbombela Local Municipality are assessing a widespread trail of destruction. Initial reports indicate many houses in the area have been similarly damaged, with the full count still ongoing.
The storm’s impact has been felt across the region, with significant damage also reported in areas including Middelburg, Bethal, Carolina, and Emalahleni. Infrastructure, including electricity networks and roads, has been affected, hampering initial response efforts.
Local authorities are now faced with coordinating a large-scale relief operation. The immediate need is for sturdy temporary shelters, food, dry clothing, and bedding for displaced families. The damaged temporary cover at the Mashile home underscores the urgency for more durable solutions as the rainy season continues.
For residents like Thomas Mashile and his family, the question of where they will sleep tonight remains unanswered, as they join a growing number of Mpumalanga families reeling from the storms’ destructive path.