Somerset West Storm Damage Still Visible a Month After April 2024 Storm

Nearly a month after the April 2024 storm, debris and storm damage remain along Helderberg College Road in Somerset West despite initial cleanup efforts.

The severe storm that swept across the Western Cape on Sunday, 7 April 2024, caused widespread storm damage in Somerset West and across the Helderberg, leaving fallen trees, branches and debris in its wake.

I was honestly impressed with the authorities’ prompt response in clearing the roads. The very next day, on Monday, most of the roads we travelled on in Somerset West had already been reopened, with City of Cape Town storm cleanup crews prioritising traffic flow by moving fallen trees, branches and other storm debris to the side of the road.

However, almost a month later, on 5 May 2024, storm damage in Somerset West is still evident in some areas. While the roads themselves remain clear, piles of storm debris, fallen branches and tree trunks are still waiting to be removed from the roadside.

For residents wondering about the progress of the storm cleanup in the Helderberg, some areas have clearly been attended to, while others still show visible signs of the April storm.

These photographs were taken on 5 May 2024 along Helderberg College Road, between Old Stellenbosch Road near De Helderbosch KWIKSPAR and Louis Botha Avenue in Somerset West, where storm debris remained on the roadside at the time of writing.