Tshwane Emergency Services (EMS) and members of the community came together to help restore parts of Laudium this week, following heavy rains and strong winds that battered the area on Sunday afternoon.

The storm, which struck suddenly, prompted a swift response from emergency teams and local structures as residents dealt with flooding, power outages, and damage to homes and infrastructure.

A trail of destruction was left in certain sections of Laudium, with strong winds damaging roofs, uprooting trees, and snapping branches.

The heavy downpour also led to walls collapsing, power lines breaking, and outages in some areas, while some homes were flooded as water accumulated.

According to Tshwane EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba, the department responded to storm-related incidents around the Laudium area after receiving the call.

“We were alerted to the situation through our emergency call centre around 18:00 on Sunday. A fire engine was dispatched from Phillip Nel Fire Station, but by the time crews arrived on the scene, the flooding had already subsided,” she said.

Radebe-Kgiba confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the storm. She explained that although trees had blocked some roadways, these were removed to ensure access and safety.

“The city’s Regional Operations and Coordination department assisted with tree felling to address immediate safety risks in affected areas.”

“On arrival, emergency teams found that water levels had dropped, and no further reports of damage to municipal infrastructure were received,” added the deputy chief.

She encouraged residents who may still need help or wish to report damage to contact the emergency call centre on the 107 toll-free number.

Ward councillor Naeem Patel told Rekord that the storm did not affect the entire Laudium area but rather specific sections of the community.

He explained that the rain appeared to start in the middle of the area, causing damage in certain locations, while some parts of the ward received no rain at all.

“Most visible damage involved fallen trees and snapped electricity cables, which led to power outages in parts of the ward,” said Patel.

He noted that the city responded quickly to the outages, restoring electricity within about two hours in some areas, while repairs in other sections took up to two days to complete.

Regarding private property, Patel stated that the municipality does not provide support for damage to homes, as residents remain responsible for their own properties and insurance claims where applicable.

He indicated that about five homes sustained roof damage during the storm.

He added that when such incidents occur, the local disaster management team, the Laudium Residents Association, and his office work closely together on the ground to co-ordinate efforts with the community.

“This time around, these joint efforts included clearing fallen trees from roads and even from some school premises to ensure safety and restore access as quickly as possible.”

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