It was like the Manenberg tornado’: Tafelsig families count the cost after one-minute freak storm
About 50 structures were damaged in Tafelsig after a brief storm ripped roofs from homes, with residents describing intense lightning, hail and sudden high winds.
A sudden one-minute storm ripped through Tafelsig's Maanskynkop street, leaving residents in shock as roofs shattered and hail pummeled the area. The unexpected fury left families terrified, likening the destruction to the devastating Manenberg tornado of 1999. Nazley Smith, 47, detailed the harrowing experience, waking to rain only to be jolted awake again by an enormous bang about two hours later.
The lightning struck for just five seconds, bathing the night in an eerie daylight. Her house suffered extensive damage, including the roof and a carport. Smith described the chaos, noting that she had to act quickly to ensure her 75-year-old father's safety. Nearby, Shahiem Sampson reported his roof was torn off and an outside structure collapsed, with his sister and her family staying inside the dwelling.
Despite the destruction, no injuries were reported, and the City of Cape Town confirmed about 50 properties were affected. While the Tornado Disaster Management Center could not confirm the event was a tornado, they emphasized the need for support to the affected families.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
