The northern and coastal suburbs of Tongaat were devastated by an unprecedented disaster as a tornado tore through the area, claiming the lives of 12 people as well as damaging or destroying more than 7000 homes and causing damage to the value of R481.7 million. Now, almost a year later, many still find themselves left with destroyed homes and no way to move forward.
The residents of Magwaveni in Ward 58 and 62 are among those allegedly facing no aid. Magwaveni resident Busisiwe Tembe said: “After all this time, we are still trying to get back on our feet and get our lives back on track. Some have no windows, doors, or roofs, some homes are gone completely. We have many elderly and sickly who are only growing more sick in these conditions. We need help.”
Tongaat task team member Melanie Maistry said: “I have recently visited tornado victims from Magwaveni and my heart cried out for these residents. Some still need medical assistance a year later. As winter is fast approaching, some victims need a roof, windows and doors too. How can they live in these conditions through another winter.”
Venk-pac CEO Ricky Naidoo is one of the many concerned citizens that devoted his own time and money to aid in reconstruction efforts. Venk-pac has been involved in helping people to try and rebuild their homes and get back on their feet since the situation began and have reconstructed 17 houses at our own cost, we also became involved in the rebuilding of Seatides Combined School.
One of the many residents affected by the tornado include Seema Lahldas of Breeze Place in Jan Roz. The tornado left her without a car, two injured people and even injured dogs however she alleges she did not receive help she was expected to receive at the time. “There are 10 families homes affected on Breeze Place. We did not get any help directly from Vishwaroop Hall but things were being stored there for the tornado victims. We did not receive not 1 hamper from Vishwaroop Hall and we did not receive mattresses, gas stoves or water or hampers from them. I had to go out to get help for my family with a friend by picking up hampers from other sponsors while being injured myself. Venk Pac has dropped off hampers for us. The DA assisted us as did private sponsors but the Vishwaroop Hall did not give anything to my road.”
Naidoo said: “A lot of money has come into Tongaat, donations from private citizens, money raised by radio stations, all for the tornado victims. Those funds were channelled into a few organisations like the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum and the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society, that are showing no accountability or transparency. As a major sponsor for the repair work in the area I deserve to know where the money is being spent, as do the suffering community members.”
Public relations officer of the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum, Yogin Naidoo said: “The Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum was part of a collective called the Tongaat disaster task team. Like all disasters in the town, from Covid-19 to the floods and the unrest the forum undertakes relief work, that is providing immediate assistance and response in bringing relief to the victims by providing hot meals, grocery hampers, clothing, blankets, other necessities and assistance with clean-up operations. Our membership is updated regularly and we account to them via our BGM, where audited financial statements are presented. There seems to be this ill informed perception by the community that the money raised by the big radio station aid efforts from the premises of the disaster control centre in Tongaat was given to the task team. This is not true. Our chairperson is available to discuss any points of clarity on the matter.”
The Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society Secretary Clyde Pillay added: We have records of the income and expenditure related to the tornado relief which is currently subject to an external audit and will be included in our annual financial statements, which would then be presented at our AGM and uploaded on our website.”
