Sinoville residents in shock as tornado leaves destruction in its wake

Residents of Sinoville and Montana in the north of Pretoria are still coming to terms with the destruction caused by the recent tornado.

The tornado passed through the area, leaving homes damaged, fences flattened, and large trees uprooted.

As many begin to pick up the pieces of their lives, residents shared their stories of survival and resilience.

One of the residents, Kariena de Vos, recounted her experience of the storm that caused a tree in her front yard to collapse.

“The heavy rains we’ve had recently softened the ground and the tree in our front yard fell over,” said De Vos.

De Vos said her perimeter fence was flattened in the process, but luckily no one was injured.

“We purchased the house in 2020, and we already removed several large trees from the yard in previous year.

“Despite the precaution, I’m still concerned about the few big old trees that still loom over my property, particularly those that hang over municipal power lines.”

A trail of destruction was left after a tornado swept through Montana Pretoria this afternoon. Damages to many secondhand dealerships, townhouses damaged, roofs blown off, trees broken and uprooted, and electricity outages. Tornados are not common in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/5Utkj6lDAs

— ZeldaS (@ZeldaS6965) February 18, 2025

She said she is worried about those trees, especially after what happened.

In the immediate aftermath, De Vos expressed gratitude to local authorities for their swift response.

“Hopefully, the officials will come help remove the tree.”

Other residents were severely affected.

Shirley Maluleka, a Sand Piper complex resident, is still in shock after the tornado left her home uninhabitable.

“I am still in shock after what transpired over the past two days, but I am handling it in a calm manner,” shared Maluleka.

She has had to find temporary accommodation while looking for a more permanent solution.

“The alternative solution I got is being placed in one of the lodges around the area while I am looking for a place to stay from March 1.”

Despite the difficulties she’s faced, Maluleka has found comfort in the support of her neighbours.

“I already got help from other residents with food and storage,” added Maluleka.

The sense of community has been a silver lining for many residents helping each other through a challenging recovery in the aftermath of the tornado.

Ward 50 Councillor Lenise Breytenbach said Tshwane is working tirelessly to clean up debris, cut trees, and address other service delivery problems.

“The storm had a devastating impact on our community. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone involved in the response efforts, including our emergency services, municipal workers, and community members who have come together to support one another,” said Breytenbach.

Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni said the department had to send firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Operations division and other officials from the Disaster Risk Management Section to the scene in Montana, where several buildings, vehicles and other property were damaged.

“Upon arrival, the firefighters found out that there was significant damage caused by the storm which uprooted some trees and blew away the corrugated iron roof sheets of the buildings, carports and other structures in the area along Sefako Makgatho Drive.

“The residential complex in Veda Street near Enkeldoorn Street was badly affected as several of the buildings within the complex suffered major damage, especially the upper floors and the roofs, as external geysers and corrugated iron roof sheets were brought to the ground by the strong wind, leaving the structures of the units exposed to the falling rain,” said Mnguni.

He said rainwater seeped through on the top floors of the residential units and caused water damage.

“The residents had to be evacuated and sheltered temporarily in the neighbouring units and our Disaster Management officials are on scene doing assessment of the damage and how they further can assist the affected families.”

Mnguni called on communities to be vigilant and observe the following safety measures:

– If possible, stay indoors and away from metal objects which may be hit by lightning. Avoid outdoor activities such as fishing or playing golf in the rain, as the fishing rods and golf clubs may attract lightning.

– Do not seek shelter under isolated trees or tall objects if there is a thunderstorm.

– Motorists and pedestrians should be extra cautious where roads are slippery and/or visibility is affected.

– Move to higher ground if rising water levels are observed.

– Refrain from travelling on bridges or roads in low-lying areas, which are particularly vulnerable to flooding, and avoid crossing swollen streams.

“The Emergency Services Department will continue to monitor the weather reports and remain on high alert for any related emergencies.

“Residents are strongly urged and encouraged to stay informed and to monitor short-term weather forecasts and any warnings or alerts issued by the South African Weather Service and other credible sources, and to immediately follow the recommended safety tips,” he said.

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