Community members from around Tembisa are helping pick up the pieces after a tornado swept through the area on Tuesday afternoon, damaging buildings and displacing more than 400 people.
According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the thunderstorm blew roofs off about 200 households in Winnie Mandela leaving an estimated 400 people displaced. Other areas damaged by the storm include 100 shacks and 20 houses in Hospital view.
The City of Joburg has launched a Tornado Command Centre in the area to help those affected by the natural disaster. Spokesperson Themba Gadebe says they received overwhelming calls for donations and assistance from the public.
“The items that are urgently required are blankets, household items, non-perishable food parcels and clothing items.”
The situation is dire but some community members from surrounding areas have also joined forces to assist the residents.
Sandi Sankar and her family have made it their mission to assist in any way possible. They feel that there is a general lack of help during this crisis so have taken to the streets to get the job done.
“The informal settlement is densely populated and reliable statistics are hard to validate. It is for this reason that my family made contact with a local a brilliant young lady Agnes Lele Chere who live close by and knows the situation on the ground.”
Sankar and her family have called on their friends to provide food and clothing to the needy. She does regular drop offs but is concerned that the drive will lose momentum without the correct help.
“It is with her help that we load my ‘tractor laden’ sedan are are able to supply hot food day and night to survivors. This is still not enough. Too many people are in need.”
If you would like to assist in any way get hold of Sandi Sankar on excel02x@gmail.com
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