Her heart sank when she heard about the tragic tornado that destroyed the homes of families in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal recently. Over 7 000 homes were damaged by the tornado, and about 200 people living in shelters. Through her foundation, award-winning singer Nomcebo Zikode rallied some friends to provide relief for Tongaat tornado victims.

GIVING

On Wednesday, Nomcebo spent the day handing out blankets, non-perishable food packs and toiletries to the victims of the tornado. "This disaster was very tragic," she said. "I felt it was important for us to come here promptly and lend a helping hand. It was very hard to not feel sorry for these people because they already don't have it easy", she explained. Seeing the beaming faces of the survivors has brought joy to her heart. "It's really the small things that matter."

HELP

She launched the Nomcebo Zikode Foundation in 2021 after years of privately donating school uniforms, sanitary towels and food parcels. "Giving runs in my blood," she said. "It has made me the person I am today. I believe in giving back to the people who have supported me throughout my career and helped me reach my success." Her foundation is all about helping disadvantaged and abused women, children, the elderly,and those in the creative arts sector. "This is something very close to my heart, it keeps me humble and grounded," Nomcebo pledged to continuously engage with the affected communities. "We intend to continue participating in initiatives that foster positive outcomes for the disadvantaged. It also is keen to drive impact with organisations that share the same mission, vision, and values."

FLOOD DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT OVER R1.3 BILLION 

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the province has estimated the damages caused by the severe storms at over R1.3 billion across different regions of the province. The eThekwini Metro alone accounts for over R480 million. According to spokesperson Sboniso Mngadi, more than 7,000 households were affected while 20 schools suffered severe damage, along with roads, bridges, community halls and electricity infrastructure. The storm also claimed 12 lives in the province.