Disaster management personnel from various local municipalities in Ehlanzeni District and the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in Mpumalanga are on the ground establishing the extent of the damage following last night's heavy storm and rains in the Province. An urgent Joint Operations Committee (JOC) meeting this morning presented a preliminary of damages to several houses, educational and health facilities, disrupting operations and livelihoods within the Nkomazi Local Municipality.
The Department of COGHSTA wishes to inform the public that yesterday's severe wind and hail caused damages in four villages, namely; Sikhwahlane, Mangweni, Madadeni, and Bufelsptuit in the Nkomazi area. The destructive winds resulted over 30 households' roofs were blown off, Mangweni Clinic's roof blown away, Shinyukane Secondary's School and Phambanisa Primary School's roofs blown away, a community hall and a landfill site, roads have been affected by Sunday's disaster. The teams are yet to establish any damages or destruction from Bushbuckridge, City of Mbombela, and Thaba Chweu Local Municipalities.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, only two people were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment. The two have since been discharged from local health facilities. MEC Speed Mashilo stressed that the Disaster Management Teams is government's efforts to mitigate the destruction and ensure that livelihoods are restored. "COGHSTA, together with local government personnel is ensuring that we join efforts and working closely to facilitate recovery efforts and provide assistance to affected residents. Once again, we wish a speedy recovery to the two who suffered minor injuries", comforted Mashilo.
The local municipality and sector departments are providing relief materials to the affected households. The Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of communities. The Joint Operations Committee (JOC) meetings will continue to give updates on the matter. A comprehensive report from sector departments and municipalities to determine the extent of the damage and required interventions will be complied by consideration by authorities.
The disaster management team will always be on stand-by while monitoring the weather updates. Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service has predicted that the weather in Nkomazi today (Monday, September 15, 2025) is expected to be mostly clear and hot, with a high around 31°C (88°F) and a low of about 20°C (68°F). The skies will be sunny to partly cloudy, and winds will be blowing from the East-Southeast at approximately 15 to 25 km/h (9 to 16 mph).
ENDS..
ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
CO-OPERATING GOVERNANCE, HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS
CONTACT PERSON: FREDDY NGOBE - 013 766 6014/082 859 4630/fingobe@mpg.gov.za