From Storms to Sculpture: Stories from a Week in Hermanus ⛅️

Hello Hermanus!

A new week, a fresh edition, and a chance to catch our breath after a storm that reminded us just how powerful - and how connected - this community really is. 🐋

In this week’s edition, we’re sharing:

🏡 Property of the Week (with Greeff Properties) - a beautifully maintained home with mountain views and flexible dual-living potential

🌧️ Storm over the Overberg - a look at the impact across the region, and the way the Hermanus community showed up for one another when it mattered most

🎨 Local Feature: Sculptor Armand Van Rensburg - from early beginnings to internationally collected work, and the stories shaped through his hands-on process

🥐 New in Town - The Patisserie at Daan’s Bakery opens its doors, bringing a beautifully crafted new sweet spot to Dirkie Uys Street

💡 Legal piece of the week with STBB - what really happens to a property transaction when a buyer or seller passes away mid-deal

📆 What’s On in Hermanus & Local Events - markets, runs, workshops, and a few ways to get out and about this week

🎒 Community & Schools - how Hermanus High is supporting families in need, and how you can help

🌤️ Your Weather - a far calmer, more settled stretch ahead, with mild days, light winds, and only the occasional passing shower

📷 Spotted in the Overberg - this week’s photo capture and a little local perspective through your lens

Here’s to a week of steady skies, strong community spirit, and the small moments that make Hermanus what it is.

The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. Love local stories? Share The Scoop with a friend at hermanusscoop.co.za. It’s free and it’s lekker. 💛

🏡Property of the Week - Presented by Greeff Properties

Looking for ocean views or a mountainside retreat?

Each week, we spotlight a standout listing that captures the unique charm and lifestyle of the Overberg. From ocean-view escapes to tucked-away treasures, these are the homes that inspire imagination - and maybe even your next move. Brought to you by Greeff Properties, trusted specialists in exceptional real estate across the Overberg.

This beautifully maintained sectional title property offers an exceptional opportunity for dual living, extended family accommodation, or generating additional rental income all while enjoying breathtaking mountain views and a peaceful lifestyle setting.

The main home features 4 spacious bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, designed with comfortable family living in mind. The living areas flow effortlessly and create a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout the home. Large windows allow for plenty of natural light while framing the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding the property.

View the full property here.

Storm over the Overberg and the community that held

What hit the Western Cape over the past week was no ordinary winter front. An Orange Level 6 warning was issued for Cape Town, the West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg, while parts of the Cape Winelands - Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Theewaterskloof, Breede Valley and Witzenberg - faced an even more severe Level 8 alert, with forecasts of 200 to 300 millimetres of rain raising the risk of mudslides, fast-flowing rivers and dangerous road flooding. The damage across the broader region has been heartbreaking. In Rawsonville, families were evacuated from flooded informal settlements, while roads and mountain passes across the Cape Winelands were closed due to mudslides. In Paarl, residents mopped out flooded homes. Trucks overturned on the R101 between Rawsonville and Worcester and on the N2 near Sir Lowry's Pass. Most devastating of all, between Worcester and Rawsonville, 23 farmworkers and their families, including babies, toddlers, elderly people, a blind man and a paraplegic man -were rescued from rooftops where they had been stranded since Monday as floodwaters rose around them. Three people were found dead on the same farm. In Somerset West, fallen trees damaged buildings at Beaumont Primary School, and the Western Cape Department of Education closed all provincial schools on Tuesday, 12 May, in the interest of safety. Even Caledon Hospital was affected, with emergency and paediatric patients transferred to Hermanus Hospital after storm damage hit their infrastructure. This was a storm that spared very little.

Closer to home, the Overstrand bore the full brunt of it. Greater Hermanus, Stanford, Gansbaai and Kleinmond all faced widespread power outages, with damage identified on an upstream 132kV line near Grabouw, while a broken pole and cross-arm in the mountains caused further delays - the difficult terrain and unsafe conditions preventing repair teams from even reaching the fault. Communication networks went down at the Hermanus, Gansbaai and Kleinmond municipal offices. Most cellphone networks failed. Internet connectivity only slowly began returning to Hermanus. For two full days, large parts of our community sat in the dark — no power, limited contact with the outside world, and real uncertainty about when things would turn around. And yet, something quietly remarkable happened in the middle of all of that. Despite the frustration, despite the cold, despite the Facebook threads that occasionally threatened to go sideways - this community held together. People checked on neighbours. Generators were shared. Residents were welcomed to charge devices at the Onrus Electrical Department, the Hermanus Fire Station, and municipal offices in Gansbaai, Kleinmond and Stanford. Soup kitchens and faith-based organisations kept working. The grumbling was understandable - the patience, though, was something to be proud of.

Now the mop-up begins, and there's real work to be done. The Hermanus Fire Station on Mussel Road remains the main drop-off point for donations, open 24/7 - food, warm clothing, and supplies are still needed. Overstrand Executive Mayor Alderman Archie Klaas has specifically called on soup kitchens, NGOs and faith-based organisations with the infrastructure and volunteers to step up wherever they can. If you want to do more, Gift of the Givers - who were already on the ground in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands during the storm - accept donations and deploy relief teams across the Western Cape. For anything related to ongoing service issues or damage reports in our municipal area, the Overstrand emergency line is 028 312 2400 and municipal services can be reached on 028 313 8111, or via the Collab Citizen app. As electricity is restored phase by phase and the water recedes, let's keep the same spirit going - check in on those still without power, support the local businesses that took strain, and give our repair teams the room they need to finish the job.

Armand Van Rensburg - Sculpting Beauty Into Form

If you’ve walked through The Courtyard in Hermanus, you’ve probably seen Armand Van Rensburg’s work already.

Working in bronze and acrylic resin, Armand creates pieces inspired by the human form, shaped by beauty, faith, and the kind of detail most people walk past without noticing.

Armand has been sculpting since 2013 and sold his very first artwork at just 13 years old. What started as a young passion quickly became a lifelong craft. One built on patience, discipline, and a genuine love for creating by hand.

Today, he works from his local studio in the industrial area and displays his artwork in and around Cape Town, as well as from his gallery at The Courtyard Art Galleries on Harbour Road. His pieces have become instantly recognisable to many locals - especially his well-known “Find Refuge In Him” faces.

His work carries strong emotion and depth, but interestingly, the story doesn’t always come first.

Rather than starting with a concept and building around it, Armand often creates the sculpture first and allows the meaning to develop naturally. As the piece takes shape, so does the deeper connection behind it.

The organic process is part of what makes his work feel so personal.

His inspiration comes from the beauty around him, his faith, and the way art changes how you see the world. It has taught him to appreciate the finer things: texture, form, movement, and the small details that many people often overlook.

What makes his work especially unique is his hands-on approach. Armand is involved in every single step of the sculpting process, making sure each piece remains original and one of a kind. Nothing is rushed, and every sculpture is created with care and intention.

Alongside the work in his gallery, he also creates commission pieces for private clients, working closely with them to design sculptures that fit perfectly into their homes, offices, or personal spaces.

Whether it’s a statement piece for a living room or something meaningful for a workspace. His goal is to create something personal, lasting, and exactly right for the client.

Originally from Nelspruit, Armand moved to Hermanus in 2021 and opened his gallery here, bringing his work to a town that naturally suits his creative style.

Since then, his sculptures have continued to travel far beyond South Africa, finding homes in the UK, France, Russia, America, Germany, and many more countries around the world.

With exciting new works currently in progress, Armand continues to shape more than sculptures - he creates pieces that leave a lasting impression long after you’ve seen them.

Find Armand Van Rensburg:

Studio 8, The Courtyard Art Galleries, 2 Harbour Road, Hermanus
armandvanrensburg.com
Instagram: @armand_van_rensburg_sculptor
Facebook: Armand Van Rensburg

New In Town: The Patisserie at Daan’s Bakery Opens Its Doors

There are few things that get people talking in Hermanus faster than a beautiful new food spot. Especially when pastry is involved and recently, Daan’s Bakery gave locals exactly that reason.

The Patisserie at Daan’s Bakery has officially opened its doors, adding a beautiful new confectionery space right next door to the bakery on Dirkie Uys Street and the response from the community has been bigger than they imagined.

“The response to The Patisserie at Daan’s has been beyond anything we imagined, and it’s all down to this incredible community,” they shared. “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

From the moment you arrive, the space feels beautifully considered. Soft pink tones, elegant finishes, and a display counter filled with handcrafted pastries that almost look too good to eat (almost).

Think delicate tarts, rich chocolate creations, perfectly piped meringues, fresh fruit pastries, and beautifully made sweet treats that feel far more like a special occasion than a quick bakery stop.

It’s a lovely step forward for Daan’s Bakery, creating a space that feels both elevated and welcoming. Somewhere you can pop in for a coffee and something sweet, or pick up something special to take home.

More than just a bakery stop, it feels like an experience. A space that invites you to slow down, choose carefully, and enjoy the kind of details that make good food memorable.

And it’s not just about pastries.

The Patisserie is also now taking bookings for custom cake consultations. Birthdays, weddings, celebrations, or simply just because, locals can pop in to chat directly with Nicole, their pastry chef, about creating something beautiful and personal for the occasion.

Whether you’re meeting a friend for coffee, looking for the perfect dessert, or simply in the mood to treat yourself (which is always a valid reason), the new patisserie feels like one of those small additions that makes town feel even better.

It’s another reminder that Hermanus’s food scene keeps growing and locals are definitely here for it.

So yes, if your weekend plans suddenly involve pastries, nobody is judging.

Find Them Here:

📍 Next door to Daan’s Bakery, Dirkie Uys Street, Hermanus
 [email protected]

Pop in, have a look, and maybe leave with one pastry.
(Realistically, probably more than one.)

💡 Legal piece of the week: WHEN DEATH INTERRUPTS THE DEAL: WHAT HAPPENS TO A PROPERTY TRANSACTION WHEN A PARTY PASSES AWAY?

Property transactions are often stressful enough without the unexpected death of a buyer or seller during the process.

Many people assume that the death of a party automatically cancels the sale agreement, but this is not necessarily the case.  In most instances, the agreement remains valid and enforceable, although the legal process that follows will depend largely on whether the deceased was the purchaser or the seller, and at what stage of the transaction the death occurred.

What happens if the seller passes away after the sale agreement has been signed?

If a seller passes away after a valid agreement of sale has already been concluded, the agreement generally remains binding on the deceased seller’s estate, and the purchaser will usually still be entitled to take transfer of the property, provided all the conditions of the agreement have been met.

An executor will, however, have to be appointed by the Master of the High Court to deal with the assets of the deceased estate and to sign the transfer documents, even if these were already signed by the deceased, as the Power of Attorney to pass transfer to the purchaser will no longer be valid upon death.

The transfer process will unfortunately be delayed pending the appointment of the executor and the amendment of the transfer documentation to reflect the deceased estate as the seller and the Master of the High Court will further have to consent to the sale by endorsing the Power of Attorney once it has been signed by the executor.

What happens if the purchaser passes away after signing the agreement?

Where a purchaser passes away after signing an agreement of sale, it can be more complicated to determine whether the agreement will remain valid and binding.

The rights and obligations of the purchaser will ordinarily devolve upon the deceased purchaser’s estate, and the executor of the estate, once formally appointed by the Master of the High Court, will need to determine whether the estate is able to proceed with the transaction.

Practical difficulties often arise where the purchaser intended to finance the transaction by way of a mortgage bond. A deceased estate itself cannot apply for or register a mortgage bond, and if the transaction was therefore dependent on finance being obtained, the sale will in many instances not be capable of proceeding unless the estate has sufficient cash available to finance the purchase.

Each matter must be considered on its own facts, and early legal advice is essential.

What if the owner passes away before the property is sold?

A different situation arises where a property owner passes away before any sale agreement has been concluded, and the heirs wish to sell the property thereafter.

Many people mistakenly believe that heirs named in a will automatically acquire authority to sell estate property immediately upon death.  This is not correct.

Even where heirs and an executor are clearly identified in a valid will, neither the heirs nor the nominated executor can sign a binding agreement of sale on behalf of the deceased estate before the Master of the High Court has issued Letters of Executorship to appoint an executor.  Any agreement signed before the formal appointment of an executor by the Master will be invalid from the outset and cannot be ratified.

Once an executor has been appointed, the sale will remain subject to the Master of the High Court’s consent.

Final Thoughts

The death of a party during a property transaction does not necessarily bring the process to an end, but it does introduce additional legal requirements and delays.

Whether acting as a purchaser, seller, heir, or executor, it is important to seek proper legal advice timely to avoid invalid agreements, unnecessary disputes, and further delays in an already delayed transfer process.

📅 What's On This Week

Every Friday | Friday Fun Run 📍 Mikro Coffee Co 🕕 6:00am | 3km & 5km loop

All paces welcome – the best way to start a Friday. Free coffee for first timers ☕

Every Saturday | Hermanus Country Market 📍 Hermanus Cricket Club, corner of Fairways Ave & Jose Burman Drive 🕘 9:00am - 2:00pm | Free entry

The Saturday morning ritual. Fresh produce, local crafts, food stalls, and a relaxed community atmosphere - a great way to ease into the weekend.

Every Saturday | Hermanus Parkrun 📍 Hermanus Forest, Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 🕗 8:00am | Free

A free, timed 5km run through the Hemel-en-Aarde - open to all ages and fitness levels. Just register once on the Parkrun website and bring a printed or digital barcode. A wonderful way to meet locals and start your Saturday morning right. Register & more info →

🎨 Paint Your Own Sculpture - Die Plaaskombuis

If you're looking for something a little different this month, Die Plaaskombuis is hosting a series of creative sculpting workshops that are equal parts relaxing and rewarding. Choose between the Southern Right Whale workshop on Fridays or the Turtle workshop on Saturdays - both run through to the end of May. You'll paint your own resin sculpture with all materials provided, guided step by step, and there's a meal included too: a light farm lunch and coffee for adults, finger lunch and juice for the kids. No artistic experience needed - just show up and enjoy it.

Fridays 13:00–15:00 | Saturdays 09:00–12:00 | R550 per person | Venue: Die Plaaskombuis | Booking essential - call or WhatsApp 073 587 6870

Chess Night - Mr. Write Café 📅 Thursday, 14 May 2026 | 6pm 📍 Mr. Write, 26 High Street, Hermanus

Think you've got what it takes? Join the chess night at Mr. Write Café - beginners are welcome, and there's a prize for whoever outplays the room. Tickets are R100 and booking is by DM.

And on the horizon:

🎒 Schools

🏫 Hermanus High School - Voedselprojek

Hermanus High School's Interact Club runs a quiet but vital project that often goes unnoticed - a weekly food initiative that provides grocery parcels to families in need and daily meals to learners who come to school hungry. With stocks currently running low, the school is appealing to the community for donations of non-perishable groceries. Pasta, rice, long-life milk, pap (maize or oats) are particularly needed right now - but anything non-perishable will be gratefully received.

If you'd like to drop off a donation or find out more, please contact the school directly at 028 312 1283.

🌤️ Weather Forecast for Hermanus

Hermanus moves through the week in a far more settled and balanced pattern, with mild temperatures holding steady and only brief interruptions of light rain. It’s a softer, more typical late-autumn stretch - less dramatic, but quietly pleasant.

Thursday and Friday set the tone with mild days, a mix of sun and cloud, and only the slightest chance of rain. Winds remain moderate, keeping things feeling fresh but comfortable.

Saturday continues much the same, with a touch more warmth and long sunny spells. It’s one of the more inviting days of the period before cloud begins to build slightly into Sunday.

Sunday introduces a greyer feel, though conditions remain relatively calm. Any rain is light and short-lived, more of a passing feature than a defining one.

Into Monday and Tuesday, temperatures lift slightly, bringing a mild, almost spring-like feel at times. There’s a small chance of light rain, but nothing disruptive - just occasional showers moving through.

By midweek, the pattern stabilises again. Wednesday and Thursday return to a familiar mix of sun and cloud, with comfortable temperatures and lighter winds rounding off a calm and steady run of days.

⸻

Thursday 14 May
Mild with a mix of sun and cloud. 🌤️
18°C / 10°C Winds 7 / 5 m/s

Friday 15 May
Partly cloudy with a slight chance of light rain. 🌤️🌦️
17°C / 11°C Rain ~0.1 mm Winds 6 / 1 m/s

Saturday 16 May
Warmer with long sunny spells. ☀️
19°C / 11°C Winds 7 / 4 m/s

Sunday 17 May
Cloudier, but mostly dry and calm. ☁️
19°C / 12°C Winds 4 / 2 m/s

Monday 18 May
Mild with a slight chance of light rain. 🌤️🌦️
21°C / 16°C Rain ~0.1 mm Winds 6 / 3 m/s

Tuesday 19 May
Warm and partly cloudy with a few passing showers. 🌤️🌦️
21°C / 16°C Winds 6 / 3 m/s

Wednesday 20 May
Pleasant with a mix of sun and cloud. 🌥️
20°C / 13°C Winds 3 / 1 m/s
-

Overall, it’s a gentle, settled stretch - mild temperatures throughout, only occasional light rain, and no major weather systems moving through. A far cry from stormy autumn, and a good week to be outdoors between the clouds.

📷 Spotted in the Overberg:

Photo of the Week: Annale Krogh

Each week, we feature one special snap submitted by someone who calls this place home. From misty morning walks to playful pups on the beach - we want to see what you see.

And here’s the perk: every featured photographer gets a free flat white on us - in partnership with Molo Coffee. So send in your best shot to [email protected], and you might just sip your way to local fame.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Scoop!

Stay cool, have a great day and we’ll see you next week!

- The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. Want to be featured in the Scoop? Drop us a mail at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you.

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