Freak storms create havoc in the Eastern Cape and President Mandela narrowly escaped injury

Tornadoes are rare in South Africa.  Therefore, the radar equipment used to predict and track these killer storms are not in huge supply in the country, making it difficult if not impossible for officials to issue appropriate warnings. On 15 December 1998 storms in the Eastern Cape unleashed tornados, hailstorms, rainsqualls and lightning, claiming the lives of at least 14 people and leaving hundreds injured or homeless. The first reported tornado struck without warning in the mountain village of Hogsback. Shortly before noon winds ripped through Hobbiton on Hogsback where 50 youths from disadvantaged backgrounds were enjoying a rare visit to the mountains. Within seconds a 10-year-old girl was dead and three other children seriously injured. In the city of Umtata, At least 14 people died and 160 others were seriously hurt when a tornado wreaked havoc in the city centre.  President Nelson Mandela, narrowly escaped injury when he was visiting a local pharmacy to buy his special Oteleum soap. The roof collapsed and the force of the wind shattered windows. Mr. Mandela's bodyguards had difficulty protecting him from flying glass as bewildered customers stampeded for safety. The president was whisked to the central police station where he was kept until the storm calmed down 30 minutes later. Eight hawkers and three children -- the youngest aged three -- died instantly when the wall of a supermarket collapsed on them. Another victim was an unsuspecting motorist who was driving past the supermarket only to be trapped by the falling wall. Umtata General Hospital was also damaged. The intensive care unit, maternity ward, physiotherapy, X-ray and casualty sections, as well as the doctors' boarding caravans, were damaged and most wards were flooded. A 20-year-old woman died instantly when she was struck by lightning at Fort Gale. Subsequent studies of the December 15 storm suggest that the tornado that hit Umtata was an F2 on the Fujita Scale (with F5 being the highest), with winds estimated at around 200 km per hour.