By Tenisha Taylor
Severe rainfall on Sunday, 19 April, resulted in damage and disruption across the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus, including flooding in the SU library, parts of the Neelsie Student Centre, and a few SU residences. According to data from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture collected at the Elsenburg Weather Station, the closest station to Stellenbosch, 60 mm of rainfall was recorded on Sunday.
SU Library remains closed, while recovering from the horrid effects of the storm on 19 April. Photo by Sebastiaan Whitward
The university confirmed that the SU library experienced flooding on Sunday afternoon after water entered through the main entrance doors. The partially underground building was affected by the accumulation of rainwater outside the main entrance, where the sloped walkway contributed to water pooling. This buildup created pressure against the doors, allowing water to enter the facility. Visible damage has been reported, including cracks in the main glass doors.
“The main entrance door was dislodged and cracked, and there are damages to carpets and furniture, including shelves. Approximately 300 books were damaged, although no damage was reported to the special collections,” said SU media manager Martin Viljoen in his correspondence with Die Matie. He also added that “the university’s priority is ensuring the facility is safe and that all remediation is completed to the required standard before reopening”.
Library staff and response teams from Campus Development, Infrastructure and Services (CDIS) were deployed to manage the situation. Die Matie was on site between 16:20 and 18:30 on Sunday and observed that the big pool of water outside the library had largely been pumped away, with clean-up operations ongoing.
The SU library announced on their social media platforms that the library will remain closed until further notice. A few days later, they confirmed that the library will reopen on Wednesday 22 April 2026. However, the Archives will remain closed until Friday, 24 April.
Repair work underway at Stellenbosch University library. Photo by Sebastiaan Whitward
Beyond the library, the Neelsie Student Centre and several residences were also affected by the rainstorm. When Die Matie was on site at approximately 18:00, conditions at the Neelsie had improved, and the facility was fully operational again by 20 April 2026.
The university confirmed that additional campus facilities, including the Maties Gym and the Sports Science Building, also sustained water damage. More than 100 personnel from the CDIS division, alongside service providers and campus security, worked through the night to secure affected areas. “Most sites were declared safe and stabilised by midnight on Sunday, with the focus since shifting from immediate clean-up to infrastructure repair,” said Viljoen.
Affected residences include Huis Visser, Huis Marais, Lydia, Simonsberg, Eendrag, Khayalethu, Goldfields, Serruria, and some SU student houses.
“The storm resulted in flooding our [front lawn] and a small leak in our hall on the third floor which caused no damage. No students were displaced,” said Sebastian Le Grange, Simonsberg Prim and fourth-year BCom (Mathematical Sciences) student, when interviewed by Die Matie.
In Huis Visser, Jordan Meyer, a first-year BA (Human Resource Management) student, said, “The hallways and some ground-floor rooms were flooded, and certain sections experienced ceiling leaks,” but added that “residence management acted quickly, and the situation was resolved”. Meyer said that “residence staff, as well as residents, teamed up to clear water from the flooded rooms using brooms and mops, while also relocating furniture.”
In a statement issued to students and staff on Sunday evening, Dr Ronel Retief, Registrar and acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said, “Clean-up and restoration work is ongoing across affected areas.”
“No injuries have been reported, and we are grateful that university operations can continue, despite water damage in places,” Retief said.
“Affected on-campus students are being supported, including arrangements for alternative accommodation where required. All SU residences, however, remain fully operational. Assessments of affected facilities are underway and updates on library services will be communicated as conditions evolve. In the meantime, students are encouraged to make use of one of the other study areas on campus.”
This is a developing story. Die Matie will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
