Various units dispersed to respond to emergencies‚ after a tornado struck the City of Ekurhuleni‚ have identified damages at a hospital‚ a mall and a garage.

Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Captain Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said that a “very strong tornado” passed through Thembisa at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon and that three places were affected — Phumlani Mall in Winnie Mandela section‚ Thembisa Hospital and a Total garage‚ both in Hospital View.

Kgasago said two people had suffered minor injuries at Phumlani Mall‚ where the roof was ripped off‚ and that the mall has been evacuated.

The Gauteng Health Department said there no injuries. However‚ it said that the hospital’s fence‚ carports‚ about 20 vehicles belonging to employees‚ including three ambulances‚ the roof of one building had been destroyed. Trees were also uprooted.

“The hospital is currently attending to people who were injured at the detroyed Phumlani Mall in Tembisa‚ about 20 people have been transferred to the hospital. We have dispatched ambulances from neighbouring areas to assist the hospital accordingly.

Earlier‚ Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told TMG Digital t the city had already dispersed all is personnel following an alert issued by the SA Weather Service.

Dlamini said the teams‚ which include metro police‚ disaster management and emergency services would provide information to the city‚ which will then decide whether to declare disaster status in Tembisa.