As 18 July approaches, South Africa prepares once again to honour Mandela Day – a celebration not only of Madiba’s life, but of the spirit he embodied: service, dignity, and everyday acts of kindness. This year, we’re highlighting two meaningful ways you can get involved right here in our Village.

On 13 June, the Village Collective hosted its second annual business breakfast. Founding partners and key Somerset West stakeholders shared their passion and ideas for revitalising the village centre – making it a place to live, work, connect, and thrive.

Youth Day is a time to reflect on the power and potential of young people across South Africa – and right here in Somerset West, the Imibala Trust is steadily transforming that potential into reality every day.

It’s Father’s Day this Sunday, and this year, we’re ditching the default socks and undies. Instead, we’re finding out what Dad really wants. Last week, we sent out a poll in the Village Collective WhatsApp Group calling on Somerset West dads to weigh in. And the results are in…

Some careers begin with a leap. Others begin at the kitchen table, where stories of clients, contracts, and community fill the air over breakfast. For one local real estate agent at Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Helderberg, her calling was never far from home – it was woven into the fabric of her childhood in Somerset West.

Happy International Burger Day! While the origins of the hamburger are still hotly debated – Hamburg or the US? – One thing is certain: Somerset West is serving up some seriously delicious contenders. So, where are you going for the best burger in town? We took to the streets this past week and put our taste buds to work to answer that very question. So here it is: our take on the 5 best burgers in Somerset West.

The celebration of Workers’ Day this month has got us thinking… where is the best spot in town to get some work done? It’s obviously a coffee shop where the WiFi is as strong as the coffee, and the plug points cater to both two- and three-prong plugs. But which one is best suited to your workflow? Here are our top 6 picks.

Mother’s Day is around the corner – so how are you planning to celebrate the incredible women who lift us up, keep us grounded, and make life a little more beautiful every day? If you’re looking for a gift, an idea for a special outing, or just a thoughtful way to say “I love you,” we’ve rounded up some of the best local spots in Somerset West to help you make this Mother’s Day truly memorable.

If you took a drive around town on any given Monday morning, or even popped your head into a coffee shop or two, you’d notice that business is bustling in Somerset West. Small boutique businesses, big corporate empires, start-ups, remote workers, and everything in between. This Workers Day, we’re telling the story of two local business owners to get a feel for the working culture of Somerset West.

If you’ve been around the block for a while, then Lion’s Square is one block on Main Road you’ll know all too well. The family-run KWIKSPAR at Lion’s Square has been serving our Village for nearly 25 years, and for the owners, family has been a core value since day one. We recently sat down for a coffee with Janine Fourie to find out more about the heart and soul behind KWIKSPAR at Lion’s Square.

Easter weekend is just around the corner, and that means big family gatherings, chocolate egg hunts, and an endless supply of hot cross buns are in order! Here’s your round-up of everything happening in the Village this Easter.

Mr Colin Truelove, a long-time resident at the Helderberg Society for the Aged (HSFA), celebrated his 100th birthday in February 2025. We recently sat down with Mr Truelove to find out his recipe for a long and happy life, and we’re sharing his insights in celebration of World Health Day.

Autumn has officially settled in Somerset West, and the changing season is breathing new life into the Village Garden. We recently caught up with garden supervisors to get the inside scoop (or shovel-full) on what’s in store for the season. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, aspiring green thumb, or eager to see what’s available at the next Tuesday Market Day, this seasonal update is for you. 

Emma Pardoe grew up in Somerset West with a dream to enrich her hometown with more opportunities. While Somerset West offered a beautiful lifestyle, Emma felt there were too many things you had to travel to the city to find. On 1 March 2005, she took a leap of faith and launched her own chartered accounting and auditing practice.

With the celebration of Human Rights Day this month, we are shining a light on the local heroes of our village – the organisations that work tirelessly to uplift, protect, and empower those who need it most. These charities, championed by Somerset West locals for Somerset West locals, embody the true spirit of community.

Join us at Fountain Square on 29 March to usher in the new season with a food and pairing festival at this vibrant restaurant hub. Whether you're a wine connoisseur, adrenaline junkie, cocktail-lover, coffee snob, foodie, or all of the above – there’s something for everyone!

The key to reviving the heart of our village is for every resident of Somerset West to be active citizens and to take hands with institutions like the SWCID and the Village Collective and to take the heart of our Village back.

It’s officially been twelve months since Upper Main Road was given a stylish transformation by Dewvest with the renovation and opening of Alexandra Place. So how are we celebrating? With a big Village get-together of course!

Have you taken a stroll down Bright or Caledon Street recently? Did you feel that warm, bubbly sensation emanating from every coffee shop, every smile shared with a stranger and even from the pavement itself? Maybe it’s just the February heat – but we think it’s something more... It’s the Month of Love in the village that you love!

The hot dry days are our biggest stumbling block at this time of the year. We are entering the peak of the heat of summer now. To beat the heat we are continuing to mulch our vegetable plants. Onions, carrots and beetroot manage better in the heat.