The Cape Doctor gave us a dose of sterk medisyne as gale-force winds caused havoc in the Cape, leading to the cancellation of several events.
Social media was flooded with videos of mense desperately clinging to poles and buildings in the Cape Town CBD, with some losing the battle as they were swept away, while a few ladies were left red-faced as their dresses and skirts were blown up.
Several motorbike delivery men were also stopped in their tracks as their bikes were not strong enough to withhold the howling Southeaster, which blew between 60-70 km/h and gusts of over 100 km/h in some places.
Several major events were also cancelled, including the Cape Town Bay to Bay road running race in Camps Bay and the MediHelp Stellenbosch Cycle Tour on Sunday, with organisers saying the safety of cyclists was their major concern.
On Saturday, thousands of mense were forced to evacuate Athlone Stadium when the City cancelled the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association competition due to inclement weather.
KKKA director Muneeb Gambeno tells Daily Voice: “After monitoring the weather and wind speeds every hour from early Saturday morning, the wind speeds reached a point where it became too dangerous for us to continue with the event.
“This week’s cancelled competitions items would be performed next Saturday.
“In the meanwhile, the ticket holders can redeem their tickets at any Computicket agency.”
Friday was International Cable Car Day, but that too was cancelled and the cable car shut down due to strong winds with gusts of over 100 km/* on top of the mountain.
The Table Mountain Cableway Company said the date marked the anniversary of US inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie being granted the world’s first cable car patent in 1871.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell says the wind caused a lot of damage, including roofs being dismantled, uprooting trees and damaging billboards.
GONE WITH THE WIND: Billboard near the N1 was blown apart. Picture: ANA
“Due to Friday night’s gale-force winds roofs were blown off in Chiappini Street, Bo-Kaap, and Roodhek Road, Gardens,”
she says.
“Storm-related electricity disruptions are being experienced in Pinelands, Bridgetown, Wynberg, Parow, Richmond Estate, Bellville, Sea Point, Strand, Claremont, Heideveld and Three Anchor Bay.
“Large trees have been uprooted in Gordon’s Bay, Newlands, Rylands, Mowbray, Rylands and Bonteheuwel. No deaths or injuries have been reported.”
HAVOC: The roof of a Chiappini Street, Bo-Kaap, house blew off.
The South African Weather Service says the gale-force conditions are expected to last until tonight.