Taung damage to be assessed

2009-01-07 13:25

Johannesburg - A technical team was deployed to Greater Taung in the North West on Wednesday to assess the effects of a storm that left more than 500 people homeless, said local government MEC Howard Yawa.

The storm damage has initially been estimated at over R2m.

Villagers in Vergenoeg, Molelema, Kokomeng and Longaneng lost their homes when the storm lashed through the area on Friday night.

A woman was injured during the storm. She was treated and discharged from hospital.

"The team visiting the affected areas are there to finalise recommendations on the required intervention to alleviate the situation of the families left destitute by the disaster," Yawa said.

The Joint Operation Centre has distributed temporary roofing, mattresses, blankets, food parcels and cottage tents to the affected families, he said.

In 2006, Greater Taung was hit by a storm that saw 2 000 houses in 40 villages destroyed.

"An emergency housing project that cost the department over R84m was completed two weeks before the recent disaster," said Yawa.

- SAPA