The couple were on their way home from Cape Town and were about six hours drive from home when they received the news.
“When we arrived at our house, at 9pm, we found Ekurhuleni Disaster and Management Services, Selpark CPF and members of the metro parks department cutting the tree,” says Elize.
The Launspachs couldn’t get to the entrance of their home in Parkes Road as the tree fell into the street, blocking it and damaging their palisade fence.
Elize says the workers carried on until midnight of January 9 and returned the next morning to finish what they started.
Steve says the diameter of the tree was about 80cm.
Branches and cut up tree stumps were removed from the premises in no time.
Another tree of about 3m fell over at the back of their premises, damaging a cement garden bench.
Steven and Elize believe the fact that the pine tree fell the other way, and not on top of their house, is a miracle.
“We are grateful to everyone involved who assisted us with removing the tree, cleaning the pavement and the road and for the CPF’s quick response to the radio call,” says Steve.
