DISPLACED FAMILIES REMOVED FROM SCHOOL

MAHLABANENI – Game 5 residents feel dejected after they were removed from a place where they were evacuated to.

About 105 villagers were first placed at a local police station before being taken to Mahlabaneni Primary School where they lived for almost a week. This was after their houses were completely submerged in water, after the Usuthu River flooded as a result of the rains that came with Tropical Cyclone Eloise.

The cyclone entered through Madagascar and crossed to the Mozambican channel, spreading across Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal. 

According to the residents, they were hastily taken aback as the situation at the village was terrible and cleaning the area needed additional time, especially because some houses were without doors and windows. They also said they feared that the rains were not over, hence they were not out of danger yet.

Lungile Mthembu said they had no choice, but to go back to the village despite the current condition there. Mthembu said they were given no alternative, but were told in no uncertain terms that they would be taken back. “We would like to remain at the school until the cleaning is complete and the houses are back to a good state,” she said.

Mthembu said they would have appreciated to remain at the school, while attending to their houses back at the village for a week before returning.

She said there was no clear reason why they were being removed from the school. “The word from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) was that the water had cleared from the area and it was safe for us to return,” said Mthembu.

Flats

According to Mthembu, she lost everything, including furniture and her rented flats, whose doors and windows were swept away by raging floods.

She said apart from her house, she had 10 apartments which she was renting out and only four tenants managed to return, while the rest were accommodated by relatives.

Mthembu stated that despite her loss, she had to dig deep in her pockets to fix the damaged flats and return her tenants. Maria Mahlalela also believed they had been hastily removed from the place of safety. Mahlalela was found clearing mud inside her house which was damaged by the floods. She said she had no clue on where the family would sleep as the dirt was difficult to remove.

“We had no choice, but to come back to the mess as we have been removed from the place of safety by the authorities,” she said.

Nomsa Mndvoti who is self-employed and earns a living by selling handcraft, said nothing had been spared from her house. Mndvoti stated that all her belongings, including a vehicle which she bought last year March, were damaged. She noted that her money, which she collected for rentals from her tenants, was also swept by the floods. 

According to Mndvoti, she lost about E1 200 and thanked God that she had been able to recover E1 000. She said all her tenants had left following that the houses were also damaged. “My child, I don’t even know where I will begin. I am as good as dead,” she said.

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