ON FRIDAY afternoon last week it got darker and darker as a rainstorm accumulated over Vryheid. After days and days of heat well into the 30s, and with threats of rain which never really materialised, it looked as if Vryheid was going to get its first real rain storm of this rainy season. And we did. At about 2:30pm the heavens opened. In about two hours about 100mm of rain was dumped on Vryheid, and could not drain off fast enough. Storm water drains in the streets could not cope, and streets were flooded. Yards were flooded. The Paddadam overflowed. In East Street at the intersection of Uitlander, where there is a natural channel, the road was exhaust pipe-high in water. People on the upper side were not risking it and U-turning up the wrong side of the road. Then, much later, the sun tried to come out.
