The first autumn rains brought destruction from the streets to stores in Stellenbosch this past weekend.

In the Cape Winelands recorded rainfall over the past weekend ranges from 50 mm to 80 mm, while mountainous areas in this district recorded up to 120 mm of rain over the three days.

Social media was abuzz with Stellenbosch residents sharing views of flooded streets from the town’s centre right to Ida’s Valley and Khayamandi.

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Affected areas

Municipal officials, including executive mayor Jeremy Fasser and council members, were out and about delivering sandbags and assessing damage.

Some homes and businesses were left flooded. Eikestad Mall, the Stellenbosch University (SU) Library and the Neelsie Student Centre as well as the local bar Aandklas had water streaming into its premises. Clean-up crews managed to bring order to most buildings.

By Monday 20 April Eikestad Mall management confirmed the shopping centre was back up and running, while SU said its library would be closed until further notice.

“The university would like to assure you that the situation is being actively managed, with designated response teams from Campus Development, Infrastructure and Services (CDIS) were promptly deployed on site,” Dr Ronel Retief, registrar and acting rector and vice-chancellor, said in a statement.

“Importantly, no injuries have been reported and we are grateful that university operations can continue, despite water damage in places.”

She said affected on-campus students were being supported, including arrangements for alternative accommodation where required.

The storm didn’t seem to hinder some students, some of whom were seen in town, clad only in shorts, being splashed by passing cars, while others saw it as an opportunity to boogie-board down the street.

Ongoing work

Stuart Grobbelaar, a spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality, said the rains had caused minimal damage to infrastructure. “Where minor disruptions occurred, our teams responded swiftly to ensure services were restored as quickly as possible. As part of our ongoing Winter Preparedness Programme, municipal teams continuously work to clean and clear stormwater drains of debris and obstructions,” he said.

“However, the sheer volume of rainwater – often carrying leaves, branches, sand, rocks and litter – can overwhelm systems and lead to temporary blockages. Throughout the weekend our crews were deployed across affected areas to respond to incidents, clear blocked drains and mitigate localised flooding.”

Efforts to upgrade and maintain stormwater infrastructure are ongoing, with teams actively working across all areas to improve resilience ahead of further winter rainfall, Grobbelaar added.

In Khayamandi the sudden downpour left several homes and residents severely affected.

Videos shared widely on social media showed homes being flooded with water, some knee-deep, damaging people’s belongings. For some residents this has been devastating.

Simnikiwe Nkohla’s home in Enkanini informal settlement was washed away by the floods, a situation he described as overwhelming.

“I lost everything; my house is gone, along with everything I had. At this moment I have nowhere to stay. I am waiting for any help that I can get. I am old and this will affect me badly.”

Ward 12 councillor Ayanda Tomose and members of his ward commitee conducted a walkabout to engage flood vistims on Monday.

“We are here to engage with the community and understand the full extent of the damage caused by the rain,” Tomose said.

“We also want to ensure the affected families receive the necessary support.”

Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers was in Khayamandi this week to provide immediate relief. Blankets and food were distributed in Enkanini.

As the rain had since stopped, locals are rushing to rebuild their homes and their lives.

Tomose said as the recovery efforts continued the main focus is on providing immediate relief by supporting those had lost their homes and belongings.

“We have reached out to the municipal, provincial and national governments levels to assist us and we are awaiting feedback from them,” Tomose said.

The municipality urged residents to keep gutters and downpipes clear of debris, check and maintain drains on their properties, move loose outdoor items indoors ahead of the heavy rains, and ensure water can flow freely away from properties into the stormwater system.

“We urge the public to report emergencies immediately so that teams can respond without delay,” Grobbelaar said.

. Residents experiencing flood-related issues or requiring assistance can contact the municipality through the Let’s Fix It WhatsApp Line on 076 951 0768 or by sending an email to Engineering.Services@stellenbosch.gov.za. Alternatively, phone the municipality a call on 021 808 8215, 021 808 8953 or 021 808 8343.

• Article written by Yaël Malgas and Hlomla Mdala.