SCROLLBACK SATURDAY: “You cannot park there sir” — Highvelder, 1975 edition
Before TikTok trends and viral videos, Ermelo had its own “You cannot park there!” moment, and it made headlines In 1975.
#ScrollbackSaturday: Long before TikTok trends gave us the viral phrase “You cannot park there!”, Ermelo had its own parking fail that made local headlines.
This gem comes straight from the Highvelder archives of 1975 and features a certain Mr W.A. Kleynhans and a gravity-defying car flip that would have gone viral today.
The original “You cannot park there” moment
During one night in 1975, Mr Kleynhans of Smuts Street somehow managed to park his car, upside down, in a ditch near the old Paratus Centre.
According to the newspaper article, the car landed on its roof without sustaining any serious damage. An impressive feat… if that was the goal.
“Dit wil gedoen wees”
The report humorously noted that passersby were puzzled by the vehicle’s position and even quipped, “Dit wil gedoen wees.” (Translation: “That takes some doing.”)
TikTok would’ve loved this
Fast forward to 2025, and this moment would’ve probably been an instant hit on TikTok if someone had captured and captioned it with the now-popular “You cannot park there!” audio.
It just proves that viral-worthy moments existed long before the internet, they were just recorded in newsprint instead of on smartphones.
A nod to local history
Moments like this give us a humorous but heartfelt glimpse into our town’s past.
Not every archive entry is about politics or tragedy, some are just about a man, a ditch, and a very unfortunate parking job.
Have your own memories or photos from Ermelo’s past? Drop them in the comments or tag us using #ScrollbackSaturday.
