On June 3rd, residents of Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal woke up to the heartbreaking news of a devastating tornado that had struck their community. In the early morning hours of June 4th, the Humanitarian Empowerment Fund (HEF) was in contact with their partners on the ground from Haven of Rest. Reports indicated that the storm caused even more destruction than the previous flooding in the region.
The tornado left many homes destroyed, schools impacted, and the area without electricity and water. In response to this disaster, HEF, in collaboration with the Nedbank Foundation and Nedbank Retail, has been able to supply food to the affected community.
HEF and Haven of Rest have identified more than 30 homes that need immediate roof restoration. A crucial relief effort comes from the water filtering system that HEF and the Dischem Foundation implemented two years ago at Haven of Rest, which now serves as a vital resource for clean water, as the municipal water supply is currently unfit for consumption.
Efforts are also underway by HEF and the Nedbank Foundation to assess the feasibility of implementing an additional water filtering system at Haven of Rest to boost capacity. While the road to recovery is long, these collaborative efforts are making a significant impact on the community.
HEF extends a heartfelt thank you to Nedbank Foundation, Nedbank Retail, the Dischem Foundation, Haven of Rest, and Legend Barbers for their support and assistance in this critical time. Together, they are making a difference in the lives of those affected by the tornado in Tongaat.
