To most motorists, the town of Laingsburg, 274 km north-east of Cape Town, is a place for overnighting or to stop for a “pee, petrol and pie” while travelling the “road of death” – the treacherous stretch of N1 between Touws River and Beaufort West. Of course, this Karoo dorp is also synonymous with the flood disaster of 25 January 1981, 40 years ago now, in which 104 people lost their lives – 72 bodies were never found.
Only 21 homes remained intact in Laingsburg after the Buffels River burst its banks. The frightening level reached by the floodwaters is indicated on the orange wall of the Flood Museum in Voortrekker Street – at the turnoff to the Flood Museum complex in Meiring Street.
Just after turning left at the wall you’ll find, behind
