Whoops! Did someone perhaps jump the gun?

Sunday, 22 August. We had been waiting for about two hours at the Clyde-Pinelands sports fields, along with a good crowd of about 5 000 people, to watch the demolition of the Athlone Towers. Finally, three minutes to go. Nearly time for the big event. A stir of anticipation began to move through the crowd.

We were still debating the best vantage point, when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, 21 600 tons of concrete began to slip towards the ground. Within 10 seconds, there was nothing left. I managed to snap off two quick pictures. Many around me were not so lucky.

Three minutes to go

Going once

Going twice...

Gone

Picture: Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town

You spend six months planning to demolish Cape Town’s biggest landmarks after Table Mountain precisely at midday, you tell the whole world and the media to come and watch, and then you detonate three minutes early? I mean, I know Cape Town has tried hard to shake off it’s`takes nine months to get anything done’ image, (hence the sobriquet ‘Mother City’) but I didn’t realise we’ve become quite so efficient!

Still, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a well executed, albeit surprisingly brief, demolition of a major landmark. Well done to everyone involved.

Part of the crowd that watched the demolition at the Clyde Pinelands sports fields

Many more watched from the University of Cape Town campus and Rhodes Memorial in the distance

Many climbed onto the roofs of houses in nearby Bokmakierie to get a good view

The City of Cape Town did well to organise a large public viewing area for the event