KZN storm an 'enormous tragedy'

2009-01-05 22:33

Durban - At least 18 people have been confirmed dead in a "monstrous" storm that lashed various parts of KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend, the province said on Monday.

Local government spokesman Lennox Mabaso said five people were struck by lightning, four were washed away in a car in Durban's Kwa-Mashu area, one was washed away in Inchanga, another three were killed in Umzimkhulu, three in Richmond, one in Pietermaritzburg and another was found dead in Dalton.

Social development MEC Meshack Radebe, who visited families in the Inchanga area on Monday morning, told Sapa: "My heart is breaking for the people here. When I close my eyes, this nightmare comes back to me... of fellow human beings dying and being struck by lightning.

"How does one go to sleep forgetting how these people died, how the family of four were struck by lightning? You can't escape. It will be with you always."

He said the tragedy was enormous and "because of my job and the things I see, I sometimes have to be admitted into hospital for stress and depression".

A spokesperson for the social development department, who did not want to be named, said residents were in shock.

"A lot of lives have been affected and these deaths are senseless."

On initial inspection on Sunday, authorities confirmed eight people had died.

Among them was a family of four who were struck by lightning inside their Ndwedwe home.

Another man was killed when he was struck by lightning in KwaKhulusi, another died in Dalton, and a person was killed in Vryheid.

In Pietermaritzburg, a man who had apparently been walking home during the downpour on Saturday night, accidentally fell into a manhole and was killed.

The freak storm wreaked havoc in the province and was described by residents and officials as one of the worst they had seen.

Trees were uprooted, roofs caved in, walls and houses collapsed, and in some areas water mains had burst.

'We are here to help'

Premier Sbu Ndebele said around 2 000 people were affected by the disaster and that Ndwedwe, Dalton, Pietermaritzburg and now Inchanga were the worst affected areas.

In Inchanga alone, Radebe said, at least 1 000 homes were destroyed.

"People are sad here. They are walking around trying to pick up the pieces. We want them to know they are not alone. We as government are here with them to help them."

He said it was difficult for him to see "my people" losing everything.

"Those with homes they had for over 40 years watched them slip away as they lost everything, including identity documents."

The social development department would at the end of January reissue pension cards and identity documents to those who had lost them during the storm.

Radebe was due to visit the KwaNyavu area of Camperdown once he had completed his visit to Inchanga.

He thanked social workers for their dedication and commitment.

"I'm very proud of my team who go out at any odd hour just to lend a helping hand. They have gone far beyond their call of duty and I thank them for their love and passion for the people."

Tents had been set up to accommodate the homeless and food parcels and clothing had been distributed.

- SAPA