04 Oct 2020

Some residents of Matshwane area in Maun were left stranded and homeless following the heavy winds and showers that destroyed their houses during Independence Holidays.

Boseja, Bombadi and Thito wards were reportedly the hardest hit with several households affected.

The floods swept away tuck-shops, the roofing of some shops and chickens got killed.

Families who survived the ordeal were thankful that there were no casualties and wished to be assisted to restore their properties since many are unemployed.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Kabelo Thuo, whose two-roomed house’s roofing was found in their neighbour’s yard, thanked God that her two children who were sleeping in another room were unhurt.

Narrating her ordeal, she explained that around midnight on September 30, there was power cut followed by a big noise outside and when she opened her eyes, her roofing was gone.

“I rushed to the next room to check on my children, only to find them screaming helplessly in the dark as the room was flooded and without roofing,” she stated.

Ms Thuo said it was by God’s grace that the children survived without any injuries because there some bricks and timber that were on top of the roofing and they fell into the children’s room.

She explained that everything inside the house was destroyed.

She estimated the damaged property to be worth over P50 000. The unemployed mother was worried that her children’s books and food were also destroyed and that she lost some chickens too.

Ms Thuo said they informed the area councillor about their situation who secured a safe place for them in the neighbourhood.

Another victim, Ms Vatjanao Mbaeva stated that the heavy rains and winds destroyed part of her two-bedroomed house, a pit latrine toilet and belongings including beds, wardrobes, blankets, stoves, furniture and food.

She said only the room she was sleeping in was not affected.

Mr Tony Orapeleng also was equally shocked by what had happened.

He explained that he was woken by the sound of lightning and discovered that the ceiling had collapsed.

The family found refuge in another house within the yard.

Area councilor, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng confirmed that he received reports from residents whose property was affected and most being beneficiaries of the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) programme.

He said he mobilised the disaster management team, noting that many households, churches, shops and trees in the area were affected.

He said the disaster management team conducted assessment to see how best to assist the victims.

Mr Kelebetseng noted that it was a pity that disaster policy only provided for victims to be assisted with tents and repairs were left to home owners. ENDS