When South African comedian Marc Lottering says he was “done with jokes,” you know the situation was serious.
Lottering and his husband, author Anwar Mc Kay, have opened up about surviving Tropical Cyclone Gezani while on holiday in Mozambique. The couple had travelled from Cape Town to the laid-back shores of Tofo Beach in Inhambane, expecting sunshine, seafood, and slow mornings by the sea. Instead, they found themselves in the path of a powerful storm.
From holiday mode to high alert
Cyclone Gezani made landfall in eastern Madagascar on 10 February, bringing winds of about 180 kilometres per hour and gusts that reportedly reached 230 kilometres per hour. As it tracked through the Mozambique Channel towards Inhambane, the atmosphere along the coast shifted from relaxed to tense.
At least four lives were reportedly lost in Mozambique as the storm tore through parts of the province.
In a video shared afterwards, Mc Kay is seen enjoying breakfast at a beachside café on the very morning the cyclone was expected to hit. The sea behind him is restless, waves pounding harder than usual, and staff moving quickly to secure what they can.
He later admitted he had been in denial. In his words, cyclones felt like something you watched on international news, happening to other people in distant places. It only struck him later that he was, in fact, in one of those distant places.
His reflection was simple and heartfelt: he was grateful to be alive and safe.
Also read: Sweet Guluva addresses paternity rumours over Ashley Ogle’s newborn
“Was that my last poached egg?”
Lottering’s response was characteristically honest, with a touch of humour cutting through the fear. In another clip, he appears visibly anxious as waves crash against the shore. He joked that he wondered whether that breakfast would be his last, adding that he was no longer in the mood for comedy.
For fans who know him for his sharp wit and fearless stage presence, seeing him rattled brought home just how real the threat was.
Yet even in the chaos, both men took time to praise the people of Tofo. They described the seaside village as beautiful, its residents kind and humble. That sentiment resonated with many South Africans online, who flooded their posts with relief and support once news broke that the couple had made it home safely.
Also read: Inside Celeste Khumalo’s R5.6 million Valentine’s Day Bentley surprise
A reminder that paradise can turn quickly
Mozambique has long been a favourite getaway for South Africans seeking warm water and an affordable island-style escape. From Joburg to Cape Town, it is the kind of trip many dream about when planning a break from everyday life.
But this experience has also highlighted the reality of tropical weather systems in the region. Cyclones in the southwest Indian Ocean are not uncommon during the season, and coastal communities often brace themselves long before visitors realise the scale of the danger.
Back home in Cape Town, Mc Kay described the trip as the adventure of a lifetime. Unpredictable, yes. Frightening, certainly. But also a reminder of resilience and gratitude.
For Lottering and Mc Kay, it seems the memory of crashing waves and howling winds will sit alongside images of turquoise water and warm hospitality. A holiday they will never forget, for all the right and wrong reasons.
Also read: Tips to consider when planning to attend a concert or festival
Source: IOL
Featured Image: Youth Village
