The Great Flood of Laingsburg of 1981
Geraldine Auerbach MBE
On 25 January 1981, Laingsburg was devastated by a catastrophic flood – the worst such natural disaster seen in South Africa for hundreds of years. In a rare occurrence, hard rains in the catchment area of three rivers that converged near the town brought a roaring wall of water almost 6 metres high which swept through the town at great speed, immersing the whole town in water, with only the rooves of the houses left visible.
At least 100 residents lost their lives. The bodies of 72 people were never found – and those that were found had landed up miles away. Ten of the survivors were rescued 21 km away at the Floriskraal Dam. A total of 184 houses, 23 commercial buildings and the town's old-age home were destroyed, leaving only 21 houses standing.
The flood claimed the life of one of the few Jews still living in Laingsburg, 38 year old Alfred Goodman, who was drowned in his house on the banks of the river. Another Jewish family, the Ansteys, were marooned on their farm, and received supplies dropped off by helicopter. The Goodman family's garage was used by the army as a storage depot.
The Board of Deputies donated money to the mayor’s disaster fund and appealed to the Jewish community for contributions. B'nai Brith International set up its own disaster relief fund, which was aimed at helping those in the areas which were affected by the floods, and Magen David Adom and the Hebrew Order of David (HOD) also collected money. The HOD funds went towards a memorial for all those who perished in the disaster – the worst flood in South Africa's history – and a plaque acknowledging the contribution was erected at the entrance to the cemetery. The Jewish Board of Deputies' Country Communities Rabbi and the HOD repaired the graves.
