Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
28-10-2024
What happened, where and when?
On 28 October 2024, four provinces which include Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Free State and Limpopo province experienced severe thunderstorms with intense winds. A total 7,757 households (38,785 people) have been severely and partially damaged across all affected provinces. In Mpumalanga this particularly impacted the Ehlanzeni Municipality. The storms affected three local municipalities: Mbombela, Nkomazi, and Bushbuckridge, with Bushbuckridge (specifically wards 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 29, and 30) and Greater Acornhoek being hardest hit. The aftermath saw over 6,206 households (31,030 people) and 39 schools damaged, along with four fatalities reported.
Meanwhile, in Limpopo, the storm severely impacted Mopani, Vhembe, Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Thulamela, with Lepelle-Nkumpi in Capricorn Municipality suffering the most damage. Approximately 224 households (1,120 people) were affected, three individuals received treatment for injuries, and several displaced people were evacuated at the Mashite Community Hall. In both provinces, the thunderstorms brought heavy hail, strong downpours, and high winds, resulting in widespread destruction: damaged infrastructure, schools, electricity poles, and homes with roofs blown off or walls collapsed, leaving some houses completely destroyed and roads impaired (https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/938738-2/).
Following these storms, heavy rains and strong winds continued to impact parts of the Eastern Cape and Free State, leading to severe flooding. In the Eastern Cape, thunderstorms caused flooding across several areas, notably in Nelson Mandela Bay, damaging roads, sewer systems, vehicles, buildings, and homes. A bridge along Rockland Road in Kwanobuhle collapsed, school operations were disrupted, and over 400 students were unable to sit for their exams. Evacuations took place, with displaced residents moving to town halls and schools, while widespread power and water outages affected hundreds, leaving thousands vulnerable to the flooding’s effects. Approximately 3,394 people were impacted, with 3,000 evacuated to 19 shelters, and one elderly person lost their life due to the storm. Many of these areas had already been affected by flooding just four months prior, intensifying the vulnerability of local communities.
In the Free State, the storm primarily impacted the Mangaung Metro Municipality, Lejweleputswa District (Henneman, Theunissen, Odendaalsrus, and Welkom), and Thabo Mofutsanyane District (Harrismith, Qwaqwa, and surrounding towns). Approximately 147 households reported structural damage, with one house completely destroyed and 12 others experiencing roof damage. Some homes were flooded, and yards were waterlogged due to inadequate stormwater drainage systems. In Lejweleputswa, over 75 homes suffered significant wind and flood damage. Tragically, a Grade 9 student was killed by lightning in Theunissen, and a Grade 11 student sustained serious injuries. Around 735 individuals have been affected by these events, though no evacuation centres have yet been established.