Massive hailstorm causes havoc in Sunninghill

The sudden weather changes have been confusing Gauteng residents to the point that many people were caught completely off guard by a sudden and devastating hailstorm this past week. The resultant hailstones caused severe damage to various properties in Midrand, Sunninghill, Paulshof, the Joburg CBD and other parts of the province.

Sunninghill traditionally has storms, however, it usually misses the more severe ones, according to Linda Gildenhuys from Sunninghill Community Ratepayers Association. She said when they saw the big clouds, heard the lightning and when the hail came, they expected the small stones that they were used to.

“Having lived in Sunninghill for some 33 years this one was the worst I have ever experienced. The noise was deafening and incredibly frightening. Hailstones larger than golf balls came pelting out of the sky, destroying much in their wake. Cars on the roads, desperately trying to pull off and find shelter, very few did. The damage was devastating. Cars with terrible damage, all our security companies four vehicles in our area were damaged.

“Complexes and houses suffered broken windows, smashed outside lights, many solar panels destroyed, skylights destroyed, broken roof tiles and water damage inside as a result. Patio tables were destroyed. There were very few electric fences in complexes and houses that were not completely destroyed. Many of the security cameras in our streets that protect our residents from crime, were destroyed. This brought another problem and that is a security risk. To see the devastation and damage the next morning was heartbreaking. Beautiful gardens where plants were reduced to ribbons. Trees with hardly any leaves on them, and oh so sad the number of dead birds.”

However, she said they are doing something about it. “With this horrible experience, we once again saw the wonderful side of our community, our people who make our area what it is. Street and complex WhatsApp groups are alive with offers of help and reaching out. Residents responding to the ratepayer’s associations appeal to clear the roads in front of their properties that were so full of leaves that were wet that it was dangerous to drive on.

“They rose to the call for help. One of the most special however for me as chair of the ratepayers association, was the response from our security company Savika. They understood the concern and the threat this could have put on our safety. They organised their Savika vehicles in Sunninghill to patrol all those complexes and homes they knew of that had electric fence damage, irrespective of whether they were clients or not, they were stretched thin as a result, but they did it. I know of one particular home where there was damage, glass, flooding, and panic – on hearing this person was in distress after a message to them, they offered to bring in a spare guard they had to help this poor resident, not just to secure the home but help clear up.”

Related Article: Power outages worsen with the weather conditions