Storm causes havoc
Following drought conditions and a severe heatwave, the long-awaited rain arrived on Monday afternoon, accompanied by thunder and hail.
The relentless storm caused massive destruction in various areas of Springs.
The Springs Airfield in Dal Fouche was particularly affected as six hangars collapsed under the raging winds, rain and hail.
Eleven small historical aeroplanes and two microlights were completely destroyed and written off, amounting to an estimated loss of R9-million.
One of these aircraft, a Stampe SRV, was built in 1948 and is the only one of its kind in the country.
It holds sentimental value to its owners, brothers Bruce and Dev Howett, and Gavin Brown.
“I hardly slept last night and am devastated,” says Bruce.
While many of the damaged aircraft are irreplaceable, a reliable source says it is hoped the Stampe SRV can be restored.
View all the photos of the damage at the Springs Airfield here.
The ceiling in the airfield’s administration building, as well as that of one of the hangars, also collapsed.
Many of the hangars damaged in the storm were flooded.
A complex adjacent to the airfield was also hard-hit during the storm.
Resident Pieter du Plessis says 10 of the carports at the complex were damaged.
Six of the carports completely collapsed, while four of the structures were bent.
Du Plessis says a bedroom ceiling in his house collapsed leaving his
wooden floor full of water.
“I used a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the water in the room,” he adds.
He claims most of the 24 homes in the complex were flooded.
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