Parts of Stellenbosch experienced flooding on 14 June, and some people had to be evacuated, following heavy rainfall in the area between 13 and 14 June.
The Eerste River’s banks collapsed in parts, resulting in damage to infrastructure, and in road closures. While statistics have not yet been verified, it is suspected that the river’s waterline was higher than had previously been recorded, said Dr Jan de Waal a lecturer at the department of geography and environmental studies at Stellenbosch University (SU)
“The Stellenbosch Municipality is doing everything humanly possible to divert more disastrous situations,” said Mayor Gesie van Deventer, via a press statement released on 14 June. VIDEO: Daniel Roodt
The heavy rains also caused damage at the SU Botanical Garden, said Sonja Stock, a botanical intern at the botanical garden.
The Stellenbosch area received 60.8mm of rain between 13 and 14 June, said Samkelo Magwala from the Cape Town branch of the South African Weather Service.
This is a lot of rainfall for the area, and the flooding was exacerbated by previous heavy rainfall, stated De Waal.
Though Stellenbosch lies in a winter rainfall area, meaning it receives a high volume of rain at this time of year, extreme weather events are rare, said De Waal. However, these events could increase due to climate change, according to De Waal.
Road flooding
The intense rainfall between 13 and 14 June led to multiple road closures, said Craig van Reenen, assistant chief fire officer at Stellenbosch Fire and Rescue.
Parts of the bank of the Eerste River in the areas surrounding Paul Roos Gymnasium had collapsed, leading to the partial closure of Suidwal Street, on the side closest to the river, on 14 June.
Sections of the Eerste River bank washed away on the morning of 14 June due to heavy rainfall. Pictured above is Suidwaal Street outside Paul Roos Gymnasium, which – at the time of publication – remained closed due to the water damage. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
The fire department conducted multiple evacuations of people who got stuck in their houses, with the largest operation taking place in Die Boord, stated Van Reenen.
Impact on town
The Botanical Garden received extensive water damage on the morning of 14 June, said Stock. The water reached knee height in certain areas this morning, and while the plants are expected to survive, the newly renovated office was also damaged, according to Stock.
Employees at Aunty Sophie Se Kombuis, a coffee shop located on the bank of the river, were unable to access their basement as the entrance was washed away by the river, said Maryke Wyngaardt-Brooks, operations manager at the coffee shop. She also expressed concern about the structural integrity of the building, with more rain predicted to fall in the coming days.
“We were shocked at the level of the water, which was at the same height as our basement floor,” said Maryke Wyngaardt-Brooks, operations manager at Aunty Sophie se Kombuis, a coffee shop on the banks of the Eerste River (pictured above). PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
According to the SA Weather Service, there was an 80% chance of rain in the area for the night of 14 June.