A freak storm struck Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa last Thursday night, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure in Macosa Village. At least 20 houses were badly damaged, leaving some residents homeless, according to reports from SABC News and Archyde.
Nopikana Mfadu, a resident who lost his temporary structure in the storm, is currently staying with neighbors. “Last night there was a severe storm. Rainwater got into my house and all my belongings got wet. I am only left with the clothes that I’m wearing. I slept at my neighbour’s house as wet as I was. They gave me their blankets to sleep. I am pleading with the government to build me a house given that I don’t have one now,” Mfadu stated, as reported by SABC News.
The OR Tambo District Municipality has dispatched disaster management teams to Macosa Village to assess the extent of the damage. Spokesperson Ncebakazi Kolwane stated that the teams are conducting “formal assessments to verify the extent of the reported damage and determine the appropriate course of action.” Kolwane emphasized that all incidents must undergo verification to ensure assistance is coordinated efficiently and fairly, adding that the municipality’s priority is the “safety, dignity and wellbeing of all affected residents.”
The storm’s impact extends beyond residential damage, with electricity infrastructure as well affected, according to SABC News. The assessment process will determine the specific relief measures to be activated, though no timeline for implementation has been announced. The situation in Macosa Village is occurring alongside other crises in the Eastern Cape, including a rising death toll from initiation ceremonies and incidents of violence, as reported by Archyde.
A video report from SABC News shows the damage to homes in Macosa Village, corroborating reports of widespread destruction. The Fuse also reported on the storm, referencing the SABC News coverage from February 7, 2026.
