Stellenbosch Football Club (FC) will be the new custodian of the Van der Stel Sports Complex.
This decision was taken by the council of Stellenbosch Municipality on Monday 31 March.
The local council sat for the 30th council meeting, which also saw executive mayor Jeremy Fasser presenting his first draft budget. The council voted with a 30 majority to handover the running of the multipurpose sports complex to Stellenbosch FC for the next 30 years.
The decision comes despite strong objection from local sports clubs, organisations and individuals during the official public participation process. Among those opposing the 30-year lease agreement was the Van der Stel Sport Council, Friends of Stellenbosch Mountain, and 13 individuals. A petition with 1 340 signatures against the proposal was also handed in as part of the public participation process.
According to councillor Tamryn Kumm, Mayoral Committe member for Youth, Sport and Culture, handing over the reins of the sport complex to the soccer team provides a long term solution for the upkeep and development of the sports complex.
Among the municipality’s stipulations to Stellenbosch FC is an investment of R395 million by the local Premier Soccer League outfit into the facility during the first five to 10 years of the 30-year lease.
All rights and development on the grounds will be at Stellenbosch FC’s cost, resulting in a saving for municipal coffers, leaving more resources for other municipal facilities, the municipality stated.
The decision did not come without opposition, with both GOOD and the Patriotic Alliance raising concerns about local clubs’ access to the facilities as well as the possible rates other sporting codes will have to pay to use the complex in future.
Stellenbosch FC was the only compliant bidder for the tender to manage the facility.
