November 2022 marked the successful roll-out of Phase 1 by the World Economic Forum’s award winning SA Trails Network, in partnership with Imperial – a DP World Company – and the Devonbosch Property Development Company (Pty) Ltd, to develop and continue to link a community-based trail that will help connect surrounding communities. So far, more than 640 km of trails have linked Paarl to Franschhoek to Stellenbosch, and they are already being used regularly by pedestrian commuters, school goers, runners, hiking parties, horse riders and cyclists.
“This initial phase has been instrumental in empowering and uplifting the surrounding communities through jobs and micro-enterprises created, while also providing safe access for commuters,” explains Reghard Goussard, Founder of Trails SA Network NPC and part of the SquareTurn development team responsible for the development of Devonbosch.
“Through the development of this safe off-road passage, the SA Trails Network complements government’s mobility policy, which highlights the development of non-motorised transport networks that support its role in community upliftment. Through the support of SquareTurn Developments (a South African subsidiary of the Belgium based SquareGroup company) and the new Devonbosch Development in this region we believe this initiative will also bring much-needed, safe adventure tourism revenue to the country over time.
Unequivocally pledging its support for this community-focused project, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said in an online statement “The proposed linkage of multi-use route networks across the Western Cape fits into the gaps and opportunities identified by the Tourism Blueprint 2030. The potential benefits of the project include not only economic growth and job creation, but also the upliftment of local communities and reinforcing the Western Cape as the ‘Adventure Capital of Africa’.”
According to Goussard, the first phase of this ground breaking trail network is progressing well as it expands through Drakenstein and it has also received a lot of support from different municipalities in the region. City Manager Dr Johan Leibrandt conveyed his support of this initiative by stating: “The expansion of this trail through Drakenstein will enhance our product offering and we acknowledge the importance of this project to unlock further job opportunities.”
While the primary intention is to provide the communities’ families and children safe passage to and from Devonbosch as well as all surrounding areas. There are also plans to connect these trails to the already popular and well-established Bottelary Conservancy that offers cyclists access to trails on private working wine farms. Anthony Barnes, Acting Municipal Manager, added his voice and stamp of approval saying, “Stellenbosch Municipality recognises the budding potential this initiative presents to unlock various tourism and job creation opportunities. It is pleased to express in principle its support for the focus of this project.”
The Cape Winelands District Municipality highlighted the benefits of these new trails, explaining in a statement “this creates safe commuter passages for commuters, residents and tourists”, and added that this network will also draw tourists to the Western Cape and ultimately contribute to increasing the GDP of the area and province.
Since the inception of the trails supported by the new Devonbosch development there has been a significant decrease and prevention in poaching, bullying of kids, muggings of trail users, cable theft, drug trafficking, and deaths of women and children caused by violence and speeding on the roads. The trails have also contributed to the early detection of fires in the area.
“We are excited about the potential and benefits to the region and people in this area, which the new Devonbosch development will bring, with the trails being the first of a number of initiatives planned to roll out. In line with SquareTurn’s mission of not just creating developments, but rather delivering change in the areas we operate in, we intend on making this area a hive of activity and positive change.
“Devonbosch has the potential to be a catalytic project with far reaching effects in the long term that could see significant contributions towards job creation and the economic upturn of the province and country as a whole,” concludes Jean Pierre Nortier – CEO, SquareTurn Property Developers. “Ultimately we want all trails in the area to lead to Devonbosch.”
