MORE than 500 schoolchildren lost their uniforms and learning materials in the aftermath of the tornado that hit Duduza last Sunday.

Gauteng department of health and social services spokesman Simon Zwane said yesterday the department would interview an additional 100 children, who are also believed to have lost their learning aids, shoes and uniforms in the tornado.

"The number of schoolchildren needing help with uniforms and books now stands at 500. A further assessment will be done today to determine the needs of 100 more children," Zwane said.

He said the Department of Home Affairs had received 216 applications for identity documents, issued 57 birth certificates and four marriage certificates to residents who had lost them in the tornado.

"Mobile offices have been set up in the area to assist residents with applications for lost documents and these will be issued for free. A total of 578 homes have been assessed as damaged and engineers are still determining the actual cost of repairs to all the damaged homes," Zwane said.

He said about 120 temporary homes (shacks) had been erected to accommodated residents whose houses were flattened or rendered inhabitable. The target was to erect 50 shacks a day. They hoped to finish setting up shacks by next week. He could not say when permanent structures would be built.

The Ekurhuleni metro council has set aside R2,5-million as a relief fund.

Zwane said Thebe Investment Company had pledged a donation of R100000, which would go towards assisting children with learning materials.