Congestion will kill our dorp, but we can solve it while promoting good growth.
This was the idea underlying the first meeting of the chapter Stellenbosch Young Urbanists, which is looking to work with local entities to address challenges around Stellenbosch.
Roland Postma, CEO of the Young Urbanists South Africa, chaired the meeting after he was approached by local Anaïs Breytenbach about starting a local chapter of the organisation.
Breytenbach, who has lived in Stellenbosch all her life, said she saw the growing challenges of traffic congestion and urban development, and was motivated to do something about it. It seems numerous other locals felt the same, as the first chapter meeting saw young and old from various sectors attending it.
According to Postma the aim of the organisation is not to reinvent the wheel, but rather urge institutions such as the Stellenbosch Municipality to keep to its policies, such as the Stellenbosch Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan, already created, and assist where there isn’t enough capacity to address ongoing issues. “We really want to work with Stellenbosch [Municipality] and show the town can be the best example of a town in Africa, and on an international level, if it actually just implements its own policies.”
But infrastructure alone doesn’t bring about change, he added, saying addressing safety and creating jobs can lead to real change.
Postma highlighted the local municipality’s plans for the Adam Tas Corridor, praising it for the plans already put in place. As in many cases, he said the aim is to hold state bodies accountable for the guidelines and work that has already been placed on paper.
Solutions to the ongoing traffic crisis in Stellenbosch was the main focus of the meeting, with locals suggesting park-and-rides, better road infrastructure to accommodate cyclists and walkers, and even light rail. The effect of upcoming housing developments and the Cape Winelands Airport will have on the City of Oaks’ traffic was also raised.
Postma said the organisation had already had talks with the municipality about adapting Merriman Street to improve bicycle lanes in the hopes of ultimately calming traffic.
Those in attendance were quite critical in their comments, taking issue with such matters such as public-participation processes not being taken into account by council. The sentiment is that students with private transport partly contribute to the town’s traffic headaches.
Students attending the meeting said walking and cycling would be their preferred mode of transport if safety was not such a big concern.
The municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is currently out for comment, with local meetings starting on Tuesday (8 April). “We are such a young democracy, but civil society has been in decline since the late 1990s, especially in our built areas when it comes to housing and transportation,” said Postma.
“It is so important for Young Urbanists and other [partner] NGOs to encourage public participation, plural plans and good positive advocacy, so our constitution becomes something we live every day.”
His message to the municipality is that criticism is not a threat but an opportunity to get government, the private sector and the public to work together for change to happen.
Municipal spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar, confirmed officials are in talks with the organisation. “We always encourage inputs and collaboration with organisations and the public in formulating long-term strategies,” he said.
