“I would have rather stayed where I was because now my furniture is destroyed and I need to start from scratch. This basically means the festive hype is over [for me], and I need use the money I saved to get my house in order.”
The building, which has been in existence for three years, is a government housing initiative to cater for individuals who earn too little to qualify for a bond from the banks but earn more than the threshold to be eligible for RDP houses.
The mayor of Rand West city local municipality William Matsheke said 220 houses were destroyed in Toekomsrus and 400 flats in Greenfields.
He said they were finalising the accommodation of those who have been displaced. “This tornado was extremely devastating,” he said.
The nearby Umphakathi Mall, which was hit by the tornado, remained closedyesterday. Boxer supermarket is one of the stores that were badly affected as the ceiling collapsed on shoppers, injuring some..
The store’s brand manager Ephraim Ntlangoe said it will take them at least nine weeks to reopen. We will keep safe the stock that was not damaged and our permanent employees will still get paid as they will be helping us with cleaning and packing until we open,” said Ntlangoe.
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Nandi Ntini
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