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- At least four people have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal in a hailstorm this weekend.
- More than 70 houses have been destroyed and many cars damaged.
- In the Western Cape, disaster teams have started mop-up operations after severe flooding.
At least four people have died, 70 houses were destroyed and many cars damaged in a hailstorm that hit parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Provincial Disaster Management teams are assisting communities battered by heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused widespread destruction, particularly in Mtubatuba in the northern part of the province.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), reports from Mtubatuba state that at least four people died due to the inclement weather.
"The storm tore roofs off houses and caused damage to infrastructure, including power cables, roads, bridges and vehicles," Cogta spokesperson Nonala Ndlovu said.
More than 70 houses in the Somkhele and KwaMyeki areas have been razed, leaving families homeless.
Community halls and churches have opened their doors to the public, while many people have sought alternative accommodation with relatives.
"There are also reports of damaged vehicles, and in certain areas, Eskom poles and cables are scattered across roads and people's properties."
In the Harry Gwala District, the Greater Kokstad Municipality experienced heavy rains and a hailstorm in the Pakkies vicinity. At least six households were affected, but no fatalities, injuries, or displaced individuals have been reported.
In Umzimkhulu Municipality, heavy rains in Madakeni affected four households. No deaths have been reported. In the Mgungundlovu District, about 23 households in the Rosetta informal settlement under the Mpofana Local Municipality suffered damage from the hailstorm on Saturday night.
Ndlovu added that in Ulundi, under the Zululand District Municipality, a block of rental rooms was blown away by strong winds. No injuries were reported.
Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cogta, said disaster management teams will continue on-site assessments and provide relief, including mattresses, blankets, food, and plastic sheeting.
Meanwhile in George, in the Western Cape, mop-up operations are underway following the heavy rains.
READ | Road closures, flooding and mudslides as heavy rains lash the Garden Route
The N2 route at Kaaimans Pass in the Garden Route district has been cleared for traffic after a mudslide.
"The George Fire Brigade and other departments from the municipality had to use JCB construction machines and chainsaws to remove earth, rock and other debris from the road to make it accessible for traffic. Follow-up cleaning of the area is ongoing today," the George Municipality said.
A tree fell across the N2 earlier on Sunday morning at Far Hills, close to the Kaaimans Pass. The road has been opened for two-way traffic, but disaster teams are still hard at work removing the rest of the tree from the road. Three lanes are open for traffic at this stage. A tractor will be used to move the largest logs out of the road.
The Wilderness lagoon is open, and not much debris has been found on Wilderness and Victoria beaches.
The municipality also experienced some power outages, and teams are still working on restoring electricity. The municipality added that it has not had, nor is it expecting, any rainfall on Sunday, although it is experiencing a brisk south-easterly wind of up to 40km/h.
