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Good morning, Somerset Westers
It’s Fridayy! We’re in for a sunny weekend. I’m not too sure how warm it’s going to feel with all the wind, but hopefully everyone still gets a chance to head outside, get active, and enjoy it.
Now, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s get right into today’s Scoop!
Walk Together, Give Back to Helderberg’s Children
Raise a Glass for a Good Cause
New Butchery Opens in Somerset West
How a Donkey Trail Helped Change Young Lives
Homes of the Week
Local Trivia
Events Happening
Weekend’s Weather
-Karl Berger
NEWS
Baboons Trapped Inside Gordon’s Bay Home
A troop of around 10 baboons gained access to a home in Blushing Bride Street, Mountainside, Gordon’s Bay, on 8 September, becoming trapped inside for several hours and causing extensive damage. The homeowner was away at the time and was alerted by neighbours who heard the destruction.
The baboons smashed televisions, opened and emptied cupboards, fridges and freezers, and left urine and faeces throughout the house. A neighbour and officers from Gordon’s Bay Security eventually entered the property, opened windows and managed to drive the troop out at around 16:00.
The incident has renewed concerns about baboon activity in the area. The City of Cape Town confirmed it currently has no active baboon response team in Gordon’s Bay, while its baboon hotline is primarily used to record sightings and identify problem areas rather than dispatch responders. Residents are being urged to secure bins, remove food attractants and baboon-proof their homes while the City continues with its planned relocation strategy.
Click here: to read more about baboon mayhem
Raise a Glass for a Good Cause
The Somerset West Night Shelter will host its 10th annual Art and Wine Auction on Friday, 2 October, at the Esteem Centre at Somerset College, raising funds to support homeless and vulnerable people in the local community.
This year’s event will have a Tokyo Harajuku theme, bringing together art, wine, French Champagne, food and live classical music. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on items throughout the evening, with proceeds supporting the Night Shelter and its ongoing community programmes.
The organisation also operates a family shelter designed to keep vulnerable families together while they receive support. The annual auction is an important fundraiser for the Somerset West-based organisation, helping it continue providing shelter, dignity and assistance to people in need.
New Butchery Opens in Somerset West
The Grounds Meat & Deli has opened its second store at 47 Caledon Street in Somerset West, in the former Michael’s Arcade. Founded by Simon Parker and Brent te Roller, the boutique butchery first opened in Bellville in 2023 and is now expanding into the Helderberg.
The new store offers a wide selection of meat, including Jersey, Holstein, Geelvet, Angus, Wagyu and Beefmaster beef, along with Winelands pork, Riebeek Kasteel lamb, free-range chicken and locally produced products. Traditional favourites such as biltong, droëwors and boerewors are also available.
The Somerset West branch is slightly larger than the original Bellville store and is expected to create between 25 and 30 jobs. The business has roots in a family butchery tradition spanning four generations, while the owners say they currently plan to limit the business to these two locations.
Award-Winning Comedy Is Coming to Strand
South African comedian Dalin Oliver is bringing his latest stand-up show, Stuck in Dubai, to the Strand on Saturday, 24 October, as part of a Western Cape tour that also includes Paarl and Stellenbosch. The tour follows a successful season at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre and performances in London and Stockholm.
The show was inspired by a real-life travel experience that saw Oliver stranded in Dubai. What began as a stressful travel nightmare was transformed into a comedy production exploring unexpected situations, uncertainty and finding humour when plans go wrong.
Stuck in Dubai has already earned international recognition, winning Best Comedy Show at London’s Bitesize Festival, receiving a Best Comedy Show nomination at the Stockholm Fringe Festival, and earning an Ovation Award at South Africa’s National Arts Festival. Oliver has performed in 10 countries and more than 25 international cities during his career.
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CAVALLI RESTAURANT
Fine Dining With Helderberg Mountain Views
For a special lunch or dinner close to Somerset West, Cavalli Estate offers a beautiful Winelands setting overlooking a dam with the Helderberg Mountains in the background.
The restaurant focuses on fresh, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients, with produce coming from the estate garden and surrounding farms.
Here’s what you can expect:
6-course Chef’s Set Menu
Vegetarian set menu available
Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients
Cavalli wines to accompany your meal
Beautiful vineyard, dam and mountain views
An elegant setting for special occasions and long lunches
The current 6-course Chef’s Menu is R955 per person, while the vegetarian menu is R845 per person. The restaurant is open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday and dinner Wednesday to Saturday.
📍 R44 (Strand Road), Somerset West
Click here: to check out Cavalli restaurant
Did you know? Long before the Helderberg became famous for its vineyards and wine estates, farming in the region included grain cultivation and livestock.
The area's fertile valleys, winter rainfall and access to water made it well suited to agriculture. Early farms produced crops such as wheat and other grains, while cattle and sheep formed an important part of farming life. These farms helped supply the growing settlements around the Cape and shaped much of the Helderberg's early rural landscape.
Over time, viticulture became increasingly prominent, and today vineyards are one of the defining features of the Helderberg. However, the region's agricultural story stretches much further than wine, with generations of grain and livestock farming forming an important part of its history.
Events coming this next week (14-20 Sep)
Buckfever Underground | Jantjie Krog | Kobus en die Bomskokbende | 17:00, September 18
Location: Daisy Jones Bar, Stellenbosch
Description:
Get ready for an evening showcasing some of the most exciting names in alternative Afrikaans music as Buckfever Underground, Jantjie Krog, and Kobus en die Bomskokbende take over the Daisy Jones stage.
African Pet Health Summit 2026 | 08:00 September 19 – 14:00 September 20
Location: Protea Hotel Stellenbosch, Techno Park
Description:
The African Pet Health Summit 2026 brings together pet lovers and those interested in natural approaches to animal health and wellbeing for a two-day event in Stellenbosch.
Geology Introductory Workshop | 08:00–16:00, September 19
Location: Helderberg Nature Reserve, Somerset West
Description:
Discover the fascinating stories hidden within rocks during a full-day introductory geology workshop with Andreas Groenewald at the Helderberg Nature Reserve.
Country, Rhythm & Blues | 17:30, September 19
Location: Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West
Description:
Set beneath the majestic Helderberg mountains, Country, Rhythm & Blues promises an unforgettable evening of live music in the beautiful gardens of Lourensford Wine Estate.
Waning Moon Walk | 19:30, September 19
Location: Helderberg Nature Reserve, Somerset West
Description:
Experience the Helderberg Nature Reserve after dark on a special Waning Moon Walk. Enjoy views of the Milky Way while discovering some of the reserve’s nocturnal animals along the way.
Events coming up next week (21-27 Sep)
Wilderer Braai Day | 11:30–17:00, September 24
Location: La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro, Spice Route Paarl
Description:
Celebrate Heritage Day with Wilderer at La Grapperia for an afternoon of delicious food, fun activities and live music from Anton Vermelen.
There is a R20 cover charge per person, which will be added to your bill. Reservations are recommended
Lee Cole Live at Triggerfish Brewing | 20:30, September 25
Location: Triggerfish Brewing, Paardevlei, Somerset West
Description:
South African singer-songwriter Lee Cole takes to the Triggerfish Brewing stage for an evening of live music featuring his popular hits, including I Don’t Wanna Wait, Pink Dragons and With or Without You. Tickets are R180 online via Quicket or R220 at the door.
Paarlberg Half Marathon + 5 & 10km Runs | 06:00, September 26
Location: 67 St Francis Avenue, Noorder-Paarl, Paarl
Description:
Lace up your running shoes for the Paarlberg Half Marathon, featuring 21.1km, 10km and 5km distances for runners of different fitness levels.
Potjiekos Competition 2026 | 08:00–15:00, September 26
Location: Sencit Resthaven – Old Age Home, Gordon’s Bay
Description:
Gather your friends, family or colleagues and put your potjie skills to the test at the 2026 Potjiekos Competition. This year’s theme is Boere Sport, with a day of cooking, friendly competition, games and plenty of South African spirit.
Teams can enter either the Professional or Rookie category for R250 per team. Proceeds will support vulnerable members of the community over the age of 60.
Salsa on the Bay | 19:00, September 26
Location: Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club, Gordon’s Bay Harbour
Description:
Turn up the heat with Salsa on the Bay at Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club. Enjoy live music by Ernesto, a dance floor, dinner and plenty of salsa vibes, with a Best Dressed prize for whoever brings the most Latin flair.
Tickets are R230 for members and R260 for non-members, with dinner included. Dress code: A Splash of Salsa.
Creedence – A Clearwater Revival | 20:30, September 26
Location: Die Boer, Durbanville
Description:
Relive the legendary music of Creedence Clearwater Revival with Creedence – A Clearwater Revival, a tribute celebrating the iconic songwriting and unmistakable sound of one of America’s great rock bands.
