UKZN Provides Disaster Relief for Storm-Ravaged Tongaat Community

UKZN Provides Disaster Relief for Storm-Ravaged Tongaat Community

UKZN staff and students have rallied to provide disaster relief for the Tongaat community that was hammered and displaced by the devastating tornado that struck the area in June.

In an appeal to the University community, the Corporate Relations Division (CRD) sent out a call for individuals to donate non-perishable food items, bottled water, clothing, bedding and hygiene products and deliver them at drop off points on the Howard College, Westville, Edgewood, Pietermaritzburg and Medical School campuses. Monetary contributions were also accepted.

Speaking at the hand-over event, CRD Executive Director Ms Normah Zondo said the call for disaster relief was made in keeping with the University community’s spirit of compassion and solidarity. She thanked the staff and students for getting together to provide much-needed relief, saying: ‘Your generosity and philanthropic endeavours will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the Tongaat community.’

The donations and monetary vouchers were distributed among UKZN staff – who live in Tongaat and were affected by the tornado – and a local church in the area, the Glory of Christ Kingdom Ministries.

UKZN staff members Ms Nozipho Ngcobo and Ms Nokuthula Mthuli said they were very happy with the aid from the University. Having lost almost all of their possessions when the tornado struck, including clothing and crockery, Mthuli said: ‘This may be seen as a small gesture by those who donated but to us it means the world. Thank you!’

Reverand Sphephelo Ntuli, whose church building was destroyed in the tornado but quickly rebuilt, said areas hardest hit included eMagwaveni (an informal settlement), Sandfields and Jan Roz.

Ntuli said the situation had improved in Tongaat where the church was still providing aid and had set up a team to identify families in need through a door-to-door strategy.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photograph: Nkosi Gcabashe