Warnings of violent storms and devastation caused by storms during the past few days are once again a wake-up call to check whether your properties and cars are properly insured. KwaZulu-Natal has been put on a state of alert as more violent storms are expected as early as the coming weekend.

In a recent thunderstorm trees were uprooted, roofs caved in, walls and houses collapsed, cars washed away, and in some areas water mains had burst, leaving a trail of destruction.

Residents have been urged to now prepare for the possibility of more storms.

In the same week a storm in Greater Taung in the North West left more than 500 people homeless.

Villagers in Vergenoeg, Molelema, Kokomeng and Longaneng lost their homes when the storm lashed through the area on Friday night.

In 2006, Greater Taung was hit by a storm that saw 2 000 houses in 40 villages destroyed.