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Good morning, Somerset Westers!
I hope everybody had a lovely weekend. The weather is looking quite miserable for the next couple of days, so remember your warm clothes and umbrellas. However, this is Cape Town, and that can all change in an instant!
Now, without further ado, let’s get right into today’s Scoop.
A Strand Angler’s Incredible Escape
The Somerset West Artist Inspired by Nature
Thinking of Stockpiling Petrol? Read This
Activity of the Week
Scoop’s Kitchen
Events Happening
Monday/ Tuesday’s Weather
-Karl Berger
NEWS
A Strand Angler’s Incredible Escape
Strand resident Dawood Constance has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to two young men from Gordon’s Bay who came to his rescue after he was swept into a strong current while fishing near Strand Pavilion on Wednesday, 9 September. Constance was moving between two reefs shortly before 18:00 when he underestimated the undercurrent and was swept away.
After attempting to swim back, Constance began swallowing water and briefly blacked out. Stephan Niemann and Marcé Els, who were nearby, immediately swam towards him. Marcé gave Constance his fishing rod to help him stay afloat against the current, while Stephan helped push him towards the reef.
Constance eventually managed to reach a high rock where he could stand and recover, saying he had no energy left by that point. He thanked the two Gordon’s Bay rescuers for their bravery, saying that without their help he may never have returned home to his five-year-old daughter and fiancée.
Click here: to read more
Another R2 Petrol Hike Could Be Coming
With fuel prices potentially heading for another sharp increase in October, South Africans are being warned against storing large quantities of petrol or diesel at home. PSG Insure says improper fuel storage can create serious fire, explosion and environmental risks and could also affect insurance claims following an incident.
According to the South African Insurance Association, residential properties should generally store no more than 25 litres of fuel or other flammable liquids. Fuel should be kept in secure, suitable and properly ventilated containers, while homeowners must also comply with relevant municipal by-laws and safety regulations.
The warning comes as early projections show Petrol 95 could increase by around R1.93 per litre in October, potentially pushing prices to record levels. Diesel is also under significant pressure. These figures remain preliminary, however, and will change as oil prices and the rand fluctuate during September.
The Somerset West Artist Inspired by Nature
Local artist Sanet Visser will present a printmaking demonstration for the Western Cape Arts Society on Thursday, 10 September, at the Rotary Club Hall on Lourensford Road in Somerset West. Visitors can arrive from 18:00, with the demonstration beginning at 18:30.
Titled “Surviving Against All Odds”, the demonstration will focus on geli-plate printing and Visser’s fascination with the ginkgo tree, a species that has survived for more than 200 million years. She uses portable geli plates to capture shapes and patterns from leaves found along her walking trails, combining nature with printmaking.
Visser studied Visual Arts at the Ruth Prowse School of Art and has previously facilitated workshops at venues including the Rupert Museum, AVA Gallery and Lourensford Estate. Entry costs R20 for WCAS members and R30 for non-members, including tea, coffee and snacks.
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Culinary Cruiser
Myself and another member of our team recently had the pleasure of experiencing Culinary Cruiser, and it was definitely something a little different from your usual dining experience.
Culinary Cruiser is essentially a bus that has been completely transformed into a luxury dining experience, with the upstairs converted into the dining area and the downstairs housing the kitchen, where everything is prepared and plated.
I was a little skeptical at first about how fine dining on a moving bus was going to work. I thought glasses and plates would be sliding around everywhere while we were driving! But they’ve come up with a really clever solution. The glasses sit securely in specially designed holders, and you simply slide your wine glass out when you want to use it, keeping everything firmly in place while the bus is moving.
The experience consisted of five courses with five wine pairings, and from our point of view, the food and wine were excellent. The experience forms part of Culinary Cruiser’s Chapter One, in collaboration with Ken Forrester Vineyards.
Unfortunately, the time we got to spend on the bus was quite short due to the strong winds on the day. This was completely out of the Culinary Cruiser team’s control, and they more than made up for it with an amazing experience at Ken Forrester Vineyards afterwards, where we got to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
Overall, we had an exceptional experience. Between the food, wine, service and simply being able to enjoy fine dining while travelling aboard a converted bus, it’s certainly something you don’t get to experience every day.
If you’re looking for something a little different to do around Somerset West and the Winelands, Culinary Cruiser is definitely worth checking out.
We’ve also uploaded all the photos we took from the experience to our Facebook page, so if you’d like to see what the Culinary Cruiser and the experience looked like, be sure to check them out!
Click here: to check out Culinary Crusier
Grilled Salmon Tacos with Chipotle-Lime Yoghurt
Fresh, smoky and a little spicy. Flaky grilled salmon is tucked into tortillas with crunchy vegetables and a creamy chipotle-lime yoghurt sauce. It’s a fun, healthier alternative to traditional tacos.
⏱️ 25 mins · 👥 Serves 4 · 🥗 Healthy & easy. BBC Good Food rates the recipe 4.7/5 from 30 ratings.
Events coming this next week (14-20 Sep)
An Evening With Adele – Margaux Fouché and Kyle Petersen | 19:30, September 16
Location: The Drama Factory, Strand
Description:
Experience the powerful and emotional music of Adele in this special tribute featuring vocalist Margaux Fouché alongside Kyle Petersen. Drawing on her theatrical background and love of storytelling, Margaux brings a heartfelt interpretation to some of Adele’s most memorable songs.
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.
