Court proceedings have been cancelled at the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday due to a power cut after a substation flooded.

Lawyers, many already wearing robes over their suits, were left standing in pouring rain as court officials shut the entrance of the dark court building.

Some members of legal fraternity headed to the coffee shop across the road when security guards ignored their pleas to at least be allowed access to documents.

One lawyer with an umbrella to shelter her while she stood on the stairs quipped: "It's lovely by the sea".