Severe weather conditions have swept through the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on 10 May, with strong gusts that have caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure, triggered runaway fires and uprooted trees, creating dangerous conditions on roads across the region.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
At the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, five state-owned vehicles were damaged after trees were felled by the powerful gusts. The Department’s Hilton office was similarly impacted, with uprooted trees damaging two state vehicles and a privately owned car, while properties and infrastructure at the office suffered severe impact.
The Department’s Assets workstream has since moved swiftly, leading cleanup operations on the ground, clearing debris and working to restore infrastructure, including damaged carports.
The Department Extends Sympathies to Affected Farmers
“We acknowledge the devastation caused by the runaway fires in other areas of the region,” said Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “We extend our sympathies to the farmers who have been affected. In 2024, we provided thousands of bales to assist farmers in need to offset their losses,” said the MEC.
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No Casualties Reported as Teams Assess the Damage
Despite the scale of the destruction, the MEC confirmed there have been no casualties reported.
“We are currently monitoring the situation closely. Our teams are on the ground assessing the extent of the damage, including the damage to vehicles that had been parked at our offices,” concluded MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.
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