From One Small Village to Another… Papa Joe’s Collectibles Loves De Rust!
written by Mo du Buy
I asked the question and got a delightfully vague answer… “Piet, how can we help De Rust?”
His response? “Malvas…”
May 2026 turned the blooming, vibrant village of De Rust (2011 KykNet Kwêla “Dorp van Jaar” winner) into a ghost town almost overnight. Heavily dependent on passing tourism, the town suffered a devastating blow with the sudden closure of Meiringspoort. For the locals, it feels like 2020 all over again, a reality I wouldn’t wish on anyone!
The Disaster in Numbers
The May 2026 Meiringspoort flash flood was one of the most destructive natural disasters to hit the Klein Karoo in recent decades, surpassing even the famous 1996 and 2000 floods.
It all began on May 6, when a severe cut-off low system dumped over 300mm of torrential rain across the Karoo and Garden Route mountains. The Groot River burst its banks, sending massive, turbulent walls of muddy water, uprooted trees and heavy boulders tearing down the steep pass.
The immediate aftermath was severe:
- Road Washouts: The sheer velocity of the floodwaters completely tore away entire sections of asphalt on the N12 highway (originally engineered by Thomas Bain).
- Structural Collapses: Key bridges suffered severe structural failure, and massive debris choked the pass.
- Stranded Travellers: Disaster Management had to deploy reconnaissance helicopters to rescue roughly 50 people trapped inside the pass. Large freight trucks were left partially submerged next to damaged buildings.
- Regional Isolation: Parts of De Rust were evacuated due to rising river levels, while the nearby Stompdrift Dam overflowed to a staggering 139% capacity.
The Economic Lifeline Severed
Because the N12 serves as a critical economic corridor connecting the interior to the coast, the ongoing closure presents a massive crisis for De Rust:
- Collapse of Foot Traffic: With traffic diverted onto long detours via the N9 (Willowmore and Aberdeen), local hospitality, retail, farm stalls and fuel stations have experienced a near-total drop in spontaneous daytime spending.
- Inflated Overhead: The geographic dead-end forces delivery trucks onto long detours, hiking up transport costs for small businesses already stretched thin by flood clean-up.
- A Long Road Ahead: Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and the Department of Infrastructure target a temporary access route by December 2026. However, full restoration will take roughly 26 months and cost upwards of R421 million.
“Hulle Weet Nie Wat Ons Weet Nie”
This multi-year threat is precisely why the community refused to lie down and throw in the towel. Instead, residents and business owners – spearheaded by local champions like Freda Schoeman of the MooiKaroo shop – launched the Mal’va De Rust initiative to transform their village into the “Malva Mecca” of South Africa.
The Mal’va De Rust Blueprint
- Mass Greening: Guided by world-renowned landscape designer and botanist Leon Kluge, the community is planting roughly 20,000 indigenous malva (pelargonium) cuttings across pavements, main roads, and hanging baskets.
- Destination Shift: The goal is to evolve De Rust from a quick drive-through stop into a primary floral destination in its own right.
- Local Enterprise: Beyond the gardens, the initiative is inspiring artisanal botanical skincare products, local crafts, and themed art.
How You Can Help De Rust
The movement culminates over Heritage Weekend (24–27 September 2026) with the official festival launch and open art studios to drive vital tourism back into the area.
- Visit: Road-trip to De Rust for the festival! https://www.wesgro.co.za/travel/events/malva-de-rust-project-festival
- Stay over, dine at local spots, and be sure to say hi to our friend Piet at Mengelmoeskardoes.
- Donate: If you can’t make the trip in person, back the initiative online via their BackaBuddy page:
- https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/malva-de-rust
Let’s show our Klein Karoo neighbours what Route 62 community spirit is all about!
