STRONG WINDS LEAVE MOHALINYANE RESIDENTS HOMELESS

The unprecedented strong winds that were experienced during the week beginning on 9 September, 2002 at Ha Matsie in Mohalinyane, have  left hundreds of residents homeless. The victims, who sought refuge at their neighbours  houses have called for provision of tents where they could keep their belongings. One of the residents, Mrs. 'makhoapho Maqalika, said most of houses had their roofs uprooted, and as a result they had no place to put their properties safely. She  said, they would also need assistance in re-roofing the houses, since most of them are unemployed.

The head teacher at Mohalinyane primary school, Mrs. 'Makamohelo Khotle, said they also need a tent to accommodate 70 standard one pupils after a two roomed school building, which they occupied was blown off. She said, the incident occurred last Sunday evening, adding that incidents of  loss of life were not reported.

The District Disaster Management, Mr. Lebohang Moletsane, said the assessment conducted showed that 14 houses were completely blown off, while other four partly destroyed. He added that in some houses,  walls  were down as a result of strong winds, and toilets also uprooted. He said, the results of the assessment would be forwarded to the disaster management authority office in Maseru for further scrutiny.

Meanwhile, two houses at Salang at Mohalinyane were also blown off by hurricanes. A similar incident was reported from Lefikeng in the same vicinity of
Mohalinyane, where 10 houses were blown off and  until now, they have not
yet been repaired and their owners have not yet been  compensated as the wreckages are still being scrutinized to assess the damage.

16 September,2002