The black clouds swirled up the valley and dark enveloped us as though it were night. And then the random tap, tap, tap on the tin roof of our house, ever increasing to where the sound obliterated all other sound.

The wind hurled the leaves from the trees as the branches violently danced to the whim of the storm. Our dogs crept into corners as I looked out of the window in awe at the magnitude of the hail storm.  I was reminded once again of how insignificant man is when pitted against the might of the universe.

A white woman who owned a truck drove out into the storm to rescue black domestic workers who were walking or running down the road to try to get to a taxi rank and out of the storm. Again I was reminded of how we have extraordinary people living in an extraordinary country.

I am proud to say that I am South African.