By Staff Reporter
BURGERSFORT – A severe storm that swept through parts of the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality on Wednesday afternoon has left behind significant damage, including the collapse of a solar panel infrastructure shelter used by municipal staff.
According to initial reports, heavy rainfall accompanied by powerful winds struck the Burgersfort area, leading to the structural failure.
The shelter, used by employees to park and protect their vehicles, partially collapsed and damaged several staff cars in the process.
Images from the scene show twisted metal sheets, fallen support beams, and debris scattered across the parking area. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) has confirmed that the storm caused damage to municipal infrastructure, including the solar panel structures situated at the Civic Centre parking area.
Preliminary observations indicate that strong winds may have played a major role in the collapse.
Municipal emergency personnel, Disaster Management teams, Electrical Services, and the Community Services Department are currently on-site to secure the area and conduct safety checks. The Municipality has cordoned off the affected zone to prevent further risks while technical teams assess the extent of the damage.
Mayor Cllr Eddie Maila has expressed concern over the incident and has ordered a full investigation.
“While preliminary reports suggest that strong winds may have contributed to the collapse, we cannot rely solely on early observations. I have therefore directed that structural engineers conduct a thorough and independent assessment to determine the exact cause of the incident.
“It is important that we establish the facts and rule out any issues related to structural design, construction integrity, or workmanship of the installation. Once the investigation is concluded, we will take the appropriate steps informed by the findings,” Maila said.
The Municipality has urged employees and the public to avoid the affected area until it is declared safe.
Meanwhile, weather authorities have issued ongoing storm alerts across Limpopo, cautioning residents to remain vigilant as more heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in the coming days.
