Tornado Relief in Tongaat: Welfare Society Defends R929k Spend Amid Community Questions

When the June 3 tornado ripped through Tongaat last year, leaving nearly 17 000 residents displaced and thousands of homes shattered, the community banded together. Relief came in the form of food, shelter, and eventually, rebuilding support. Now, more than a year later, the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society has laid out exactly how close to R1 million in donations was spent. But the explanations, presented at their annual general meeting, have not quieted all doubts.

A Three-Phase Operation

Harold Maistry, an executive member of the Welfare Society, broke down the response:

• Phase 1: Emergency meals and temporary shelters.

• Phase 2: Distribution of food parcels, clothing, and basic furniture.

• Phase 3: The hardest part, rebuilding uninsured homes.

Engineers, architects, and surveyors offered free assessments before the real work began. To date, 70 homes have been repaired across Tongaat, from full roof reconstructions to smaller jobs like replacing windows and doors. The plan is to repair 25 more homes, with asbestos roofs being replaced by safer fibre cement sheeting.

The Numbers: R929 479 Collected, R658 000 Spent

The financial breakdown provided was specific:

• R780 610 came from public donations.

• R148 870 was received from the Community Foundation of Ireland.

• R658 180.06 has already been spent on relief and reconstruction.

• R263 932 remains for ongoing work.

Other dedicated donations included R468 500 for rebuilding Seatides Combined School (with R468 342 spent) and R20 500 for Sandfields, fully used.

Community Voices: Praise Mixed with Frustration

While some applauded the transparency, others demanded clearer communication.

Newtown resident Moyo David said victims felt left out of the process:

“As victims of the tornado, we have called for a community meeting to discuss the construction of our homes. Some houses that were done were not repaired well. We are concerned.”

Local businessman Ricky Naidoo also raised red flags, questioning how R120 000 was spent on wooden rafters for a single home, rafters which, a year later, remain in storage.

Treasurer Rishen Govender responded that the actual figure was R115 000 and explained the materials are being kept until the homeowner secures labour funding. But Naidoo pressed further, questioning whether donations were being used appropriately, especially funds routed through the Welfare Society on behalf of schools.

The Bigger Picture: Trust in Times of Crisis

The Tongaat tornado was one of the most destructive weather events in KwaZulu-Natal in recent years, exposing not only the vulnerability of informal housing but also the deep reliance on community-led relief. While the Welfare Society insists all funds have been used lawfully and accountably, the debate highlights a familiar tension in disaster recovery: when donations pour in, so do questions of who controls the money and how it’s spent.

For many residents, rebuilding their homes isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about restoring faith in institutions meant to serve them.

The Welfare Society has promised to hold direct meetings with affected communities before continuing repairs. With the pledged support of the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum to cover funding shortfalls, asbestos removal and further home repairs are expected to move forward.

But the message from residents was clear: transparency isn’t just about numbers on a page, it’s about communication, trust, and the dignity of those still piecing their lives back together.

{Source: IOL}

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