The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The iconic Athlone cooling towers also know by locals as “The two ladies of Athlone” were demolished in just eight seconds during a "surprise" implosion on 22 August 2010 by the City of Cape Town. The power station towers were detonated at 11:56 - about 3.5 minutes earlier than the expected time and scores of people who dared a drizzling Cape Town weather missed the moment. The decision took onlookers and television viewers by surprise.

How we know this

01Bergman M. ‘Origins of Athlone’, from Athlone History [online], available at www.athlone.co.za (Accessed: 12 July 2012)
02News24, (2010), ‘Ladies of Athlone’ tumble ahead of time, 22 August, [online], available at www.news24.com

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, August 16). The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0091121

South African History Online (2012) 'The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished', South African History Online, 16 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0091121 (Accessed: 6 November 2026).

South African History Online, The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0091121, (accessed 6 November 2026).

"The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished." South African History Online, 16 Aug. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0091121. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "The iconic Athlone cooling towers are demolished." South African History Online. August 16, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0091121.