Military donates to tornado-hit oThongathi community
|Published
Durban — The spirit of Ubuntu prevailed as the SANDF’s Regional Works Unit KwaZulu-Natal responded following natural disasters in the province.
Regional Works Unit KZN’s Able Seaman Margaret D Khoza said natural disasters were the least expected and prepared for.
Khoza said we have all witnessed how a lot has changed not only in our country, but in the world. We now hear more about natural disasters than we did before.
Khoza said it was confirmed that there was more than one tornado in oThongathi on June 3, one of which was a “wedge” tornado.
According to the news, with estimated wind speeds between 225 and 265km/h, the tornado caused severe damage to oThongathi and left the community shattered. Hundreds of community members were displaced.
“This was indeed a sad day in the country,” Khoza said.
Khoza said Regional Works Unit KZN’s Chaplain SK Dlamini spoke to his officer commanding, Colonel Marius WJ van Wyk, who decided that Regional Works Unit KZN would volunteer and answer the call for help by the affected and those in desperate need in the province.
Additionally, a team of Regional Works Unit KZN’s artisans and the neighbouring unit’s chaplains, led by Dlamini, visited one of the affected communities’ local churches and found out how they could help. The Magwaveni community, oThongathi, was selected after seeing how it was affected by the disasters.
On June 26, Chaplain Dlamini and Chaplain TZ Kheswa from Naval Base Durban visited the community. Upon arrival, a local community church was identified, Glory of Christ Ministries, which most Magwaveni community members attend.
Sam Ntombela, a church member, was identified as their representative and described to the chaplains what they had gone through and how they were affected.
Khoza said military units around Durban came together to donate what they had.
“On Friday, August 29, Chaplain SK Dlamini together with a team artisans from Regional Works Unit KwaZulu-Natal representing all the units around KwaZulu-Natal, went back to the community of Magwaveni as promised they would return and hand over donated clothes, shoes, canned food and lots and lots of items, which included roof trusses and old doors that were no longer used. An action and gesture that was well appreciated by those desperate and in need of help in the Tongaat area,” Khoza said.
Khoza said that through this, the military cemented its pledge to serve its country and its people.
“Through natural disasters, people lose a lot, sometimes a lot more than material things. It is during this time we need to stand together and prove that we as South Africans possess the true spirit of Ubuntu … Together we stand!”
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