NORTH WEST – Disaster management teams are actively assessing the extensive North West severe weather damage after a weekend of heavy rainfall and strong winds swept through the region, compromising homes, educational institutions, and public facilities.
According to a spokesperson for the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the roofs of 10 houses were blown away across various villages in the Ratlou Local Municipality. Additionally, four houses were affected in Tswelelang, located within the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality. Further residential damage was reported in the Bojanala Platinum District, specifically affecting properties in Motlhabane, Motangwaneng, Witranjie, Obakeng, and Molatedi.
Public infrastructure also sustained significant impacts. A CoGTA spokesperson confirmed damage to Walter Letsie Primary School in Greater Taung, Ikgomotseng Primary School in Mamusa, Boitumelong Clinic in Lekwa-Teemane, and Mogoditshane School in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.
“Provincial, district, and local disaster management teams have been activated and are on the ground conducting assessments across the province to establish the full extent of the damages,” the CoGTA spokesperson stated. These teams are currently coordinating humanitarian relief and interventions alongside relevant provincial government departments and stakeholders, including the Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency.
Furthermore, a spokesperson for the North West Department of Education reported that strong, destructive winds damaged more than 20 schools across the province, resulting in compromised roofs and mobile classrooms.
The adverse weather conditions extended beyond the North West. In Gauteng, heavy rainfall caused localized flooding in parts of Johannesburg, leading to waterlogged roads and submerged vehicles in the Doornfontein area. A spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Management Services confirmed that eight families were evacuated from an apartment block in Linden after strong winds ripped off a large section of the building’s roof. No injuries were reported in the incident.
In the Northern Cape, weekend rainfall damaged roads and infrastructure, prompting the temporary closure of certain routes in Kuruman after a crossing overflowed. Emergency teams were deployed to assess the structural damage and coordinate community support.
These events follow severe weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service for multiple provinces over the weekend, including the North West, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. The alerts cautioned residents about heavy rain, flooding, damaging winds, and hail.
In light of the ongoing risks, a CoGTA spokesperson has urged residents to remain vigilant, closely monitor official weather updates, and avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather events. Individuals are advised to relocate to safer areas if their homes or structures are vulnerable to strong winds. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre will continue to monitor the situation and provide public updates as verified information becomes available.