A Cape Flats crime fighter has been called an “ yster auntie” after she survived a freak accident over the weekend when gale-force winds literally swept her off her feet and flung her into a taxi.
Fowzia Veerasamy, 46, of the Gatesville Neighbourhood Watch was left with multiple injuries including cracked ribs, a concussion and sprains and bruises on the left side of her body.
A 70-year-old ouma, Vasantha “Vassie” Naidoo, was also injured.
Vasantha was rushed to hospital again on Monday after her shoulder started to swell.
The women are members of the Gatesville Walking Bus, and were attending an annual event hosted by Mayor Dan Plato at the Civic Centre on Saturday.
But instead of welcome drinks, they were met by the Cape Doctor which blew them away as they stepped off the bus.
Their fellow members watched in horror as the two tiny women were flung into the air before hitting a taxi and landing on top of each other.
HONOUR: Walking bus crew at Civic Centre
A light-hearted Fowzia says she only weighs 48kg and stood no chance against the strong winds. Her plan was to get all the members to lock arms as they walked through the parking lot to the venue.
“I still said, Aunty Vassie stand next to me, as I was putting my phone in my pocket and the wind just picked up and took me to the kerb,” says Fowzia.
“I then went diagonally towards the fence but I felt like my favourite movie, I was Gone with the Wind.
“I was literally running in the air trying to get down on the ground.
“We were like racing each other and I thought I am Kulula.com now, and I hit a van standing there and fell on the ground and Aunty Vassie fell on top of me.”
Gone with the wind, Fouzia Veerasamy. Video: Monique Duval
Her 22-year-old daughter and Walking Bus members, ran to their aid, but tempers flared when City officials gated them as they asked for help.
“We went to the security and they radioed officials from Disaster Risk Management who said she must come up with the lift but how can you do that with someone with a head injury?” says the angry daughter.
“We asked them to phone the ambulance but they said we must do it, so I called the ambulance and they came within 10 minutes and took them to Groote Schuur Hospital. They could have at least called an ambulance.”
Gouwa Kannemeyer, 42, adds: “We are not blaming the City for the wind but we are kwaad with how they handled the situation.”
But Plato’s spokesperson, Greg Wagner, says as soon as officials were alerted, medics were called to the scene.
“However, the bus members had moved to another area and the medics then proceeded to that area where they treated them,” says Wagner.
“Officials called for ambulance support, which arrived shortly afterwards and transported one of the members to Groote Schuur Hospital.
“The other member was transported by a private ambulance that was called by the member’s daughter.”
Meanwhile, Fowzia adds:“I saw the videos showing the Walking Bus people falling around at the civic centre and people saying the Walking Bus is now the Flying Bus.
“But I just laughed it off because maybe they don’t know people got seriously hurt, I mean, I was lights out.”