Local contractors and artisans in Hanover Park are collaborating with the non-profit Gift of the Givers (GOTG) to assist residents who suffered property damage during a recent storm.
Also read: SAWS confirms Hanover Park weather event was a landspout, not tornado
On 25 August 2023, shortly after 7am, the disaster relief organisation received ‘hundreds of calls from Hanover Park residents informing them of a tornado,’ says Project Manager Ali Sablay. The South African Weather Service confirmed the occurrence of an EF-0 landspout in the area.
‘We don’t blame the community for thinking it was a tornado because they’ve experienced strong winds before. It’s the first time something of this nature occurred. But, as we know, it was a landspout. Many of the people’s roofs got blown away, and with the wind, there was strong rain coming down so they lost many of their belongings. GOTG teams were immediately on the scene.’
According to Sablay, the GOTG assisted families with plastic roof sheeting, blankets, mattresses, and hot meals. In addition, families will also be provided with hot meals.
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IOL reports that emergency services were on the scene around 9am when Nasief Tape, a local resident, community policing forum member and contractor, arrived. He says contractors from the local community needed to do something when he heard people’s cries.
On Friday, Proactive Construction and LACP Construction conducted assessments and found that most of the affected residents were pensioners and struggling families. By Saturday, Tape says, no contractors, the City, or the City’s disaster relief service showed up – except for law enforcement.
Safety and Security Mayco Member JP Smith notified residents that the gale-force winds affected properties in Athry Walk and Phillians Walk in Hanover Park, which resulted in several roof being blown off and damage to properties. Approximately 20 formal houses and 10 backyard dwellings were damaged.
‘Damages to these properties were mostly the result of debris from the roofs blown off from surrounding properties. No injuries or deaths were reported,’ he says, adding that some of the properties were council rental units and others were private properties, which limited the City’s ability to conduct repair work.
In the meantime, emergency shelter has been offered at the AME Church in Hanover Park.
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Also read:
Look: Cape Town suburb hit with gale force wind causing property damage
Picture: Hanover Park my Home / Facebook