Wind conditions resulting in the damage of 20 properties in Hanover Park had been blown out of proportion, when claims of a tornado were shared widely on social media.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had been on the scene and investigated the claims, confirming that the incident was in fact a EF-0 Landspout.
On Friday 25 August, several homes were damaged, with three minor injuries reported in Athry Walk and Phillans Walk, where roofs were damaged by gale-force winds.
In a video doing the rounds on social media, the roofs of several two-storey homes are seen missing and damaged.
JP Smith, the City’s Mayco Member for safety and security, said the City was aware of the incident.
“Gale-force winds have affected properties in Athry Walk and Phillians Walk in Hanover Park,” he said.
“This resulted in roofs blown off and damage to properties. Emergency services are on scene and busy with assessments. According to initial assessments, the roofs of several properties were blown off and sustained extensive damage.
“The City’s Disaster Management Centre coordinated City services to assist the affected communities as well as humanitarian relief through our NGO partners.”
Gift of the Givers and Ward 47 councillor Antonio van der Rheede were also on site offering assistance.
According to Smith, similar damage was caused to homes in Mamre.
“Claims of a tornado affecting the area cannot be verified at this stage and needs to be investigated by the South African Weather Services,” he said.
According to the weather service, a well-developed cold front had made landfall over the south-western parts of the Western Cape on Friday morning.
This was the third in a series of cold fronts that affected the province from the past weekend, which was dominated by cold, windy, and wet weather conditions.
“After 07:00, a resident recalled seeing ‘a black twister like wind’,” said SAWS. “The main damage observed included roof tiles being blown off from an apartment building.
SAWS conducted an analysis of the weather conditions on the day of the event and after evaluating the meteorological conditions and the damage caused by the Hanover Park wind phenomenon, which was determined to be an EF-0 landspout.
Roof tiles and windows are usually not spared on its path. The EF rating refers to the strength (estimated wind speed) of the phenomenon, as borne out by the severe damage to structures and trees.
“Like a tornado, a landspout also rotates, is usually fast-moving and can be damaging,” SAWS pointed out.
“Yet they are much weaker and smaller in scale and form from the ground up, rather than from a cloud to the ground.”
Capt Lance Goliath, Philippi police spokesperson said emergency -service efforts were assisted by police.
“On Friday between 07:15 and 07:30 gale-force winds ripped the roofs off approximately 15 dwellings in Hanover Park. No fatalities were reported.
As a proactive measure Philippi police increased visibility around the affected areas.”
SAWS appealed to residents who had images and videos of the event to let the organisation have them for purposes of research.
The service said they can be shared with the Cape Town Weather Office via email, factfc@weathersa.co.za, or WhatsApp, 084 279 1166.
