An elderly Grassy Park couple needs assistance after the violent storm of Friday nearly demolished their home.
Joan, 73, and Gordon Strange, 78, have been living in their 3rd Avenue home for as long as they can remember but have been left destitute after heavy rain and strong winds damaged their iron sheets and their home flooded.
The storm also caused damage elsewhere, with trees uprooted and many homes and buildings’ roofs blown off.
Two electricians were also injured when a
substation blew in the city, while a car was heavily damaged on Saturday due to rockfalls in Franschhoek.
“I was born in this house and inherited this home from my late mother,” says Joan.
DESTITUTE: Joan Strange and hubby Gordon need a new home
“On Friday, because it was cold and the house is even colder, Gordon and I decided to get into bed early and watch TV but then the wind started.”
The couple says they got a helse skrik when part of their roof blew off and water started pouring into their home.
According to the South African Weather Service, the strong westerly to north-westerly winds were calculated to be blowing between 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.
“When the wind started, yoh, I can only thank the Lord that we never got hurt. It rained right through and the house was leaking. The room was so wet,” says Joan.
Gordon assesses the damage.
“When Gordon tried attaching the roof, the sinkplate nearly hit him in the face, that’s how strong the winds were and he nearly blew off the roof.
“There’s nothing that can be done for the house anymore.”
The pensioner, who has no children, says all she wants now is a little Wendy house for her and Gordon because they are no longer safe and their home has become a hazard.
“We are currently sleeping at my niece’s. I would really be grateful if anyone could assist us,” Joan adds.
“My biggest desire is for us to just get a Wendy house to live in, but I know I serve a living God,” Joan adds.
If you would like to assist Joan, please contact her on 066 439 9969.
The storm caused chaos across the Western Cape with traffic disrupted as many roads became flooded and power outages were reported.
Two electricians suffered burns in an explosion at an electricity substation in
Vredehoek while they were trying to restore power to the area.
The two men, believed to be in their 30s, sustained burns while opening the electrical box on Saturday at about 10.30am.
LARGE ROCK SLIDE: Franschhoek Pass
The cause of the explosion was not known yet, but the Cape Town fire and electrical departments as well as police were on the scene to investigate.
In nearby Oranjezicht, a huge tree fell onto a car in St Quintons Road.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management reported that a building in Kruskal Avenue, Bellville, had been damaged when the room blew off.
A thousand people had to be evacuated but injuries were reported.
HAVOC: Failling tree flattened a car in Oranjezicht
Spokesperson Charlotte Powell said in another incident, a tree had fallen on power lines at Thornton
station on Friday night.
Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said the Franschhoek pass had been closed because of a large rock slide.
Marc Thackwray, 28, and his stepfather narrowly escaped death when rocks started falling on their car. The men managed to jump out of the car and run.
Thackwray escaped with minor injuries and was transported to hospital by another motorist who found him lying injured on the side of the road.
Residents can expect more heavy rain on Thursday and Friday.