TRANSVAAL HAILSTORM

Evening Star, Issue 22327, 1 May 1936, Page 12

TRANSVAAL HAILSTORM

NINETEEN NATIVES KILLED One of the most disastrous hailstorms over experienced in the Northern Transvaal swept over the native area at the edge of the foothills of the Springbok Flats recently. Enormous damage was done, and 19 natives belonging to the Barolong tribe were killed. Among the victims were three women and four children, who weiv killed by hail, and one woman who knocked unconscious, was subsequently washed away and drowned in the flood which followed a cloudburst. There are said to be over 1,000 native families in the afflicted area, making a population of some 6,000 The entire crops have been obliterated, not a single patch remaining. The maize crops have been completely shattered and beaten into the ground. An ey e-witucss said an enormous cloud drifted over to the native area from Settlers. It was touching the ground, turning day into night. About 3in of rain were precipitated in a few minutes. Then followed the hail, which consisted of jagged lumps of ice. “ 1 rushed into the house,” said this eye-witness, “ and as I looked round, I saw a buck struck dead and an ox killed with a cube of ice. In 30 minutes hail was lying everywhere to a depth of 3ft, and in some cases dead natives had to be dug out.” Many cattle were killed. Natives afterwards dragged in the dead cattle on sleighs. Chief Lefiii said: “ I saw the cloud coming and bolted indoors. The hail followed and the water came down in a flood. The cause of many of the casualties was due to the fact that the natives were working in their lands, where there is no shelter. Many of them put their clothes over their heads. There was a roar of waters as the torrent rushed down. The natives

killed by hail were in some cases frightfully injured. They were literally beaten to death.”

Un the neighbouring European farms the damage was nci .so severe. A few hundred acres of crops were ruined. Mr B Bronkliurst. of Kalkbult, had his brick house washed away.