Dear Mayor Fasser,
On 5 December 2024, an open letter published in Eikestadnuus welcomed your election as Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch and outlined urgent priorities for our town (“An open letter to Executive Mayor Fasser“).
Among the key concerns raised was the dire need to address the cancer known as traffic congestion through extensive park-and-ride facilities, a practical, achievable and long-overdue solution.
More than 130 days have passed since that letter was published and, despite ongoing discussions and repeated calls for action, Stellenbosch remains gridlocked.
Year after year “park-and-ride facilities for the CBD” have appeared on Ward 9’s list of priorities, yet meaningful progress remains elusive.
Park-and-ride: A feasible, immediate solution
This is not a complex or controversial issue; the municipality has already identified suitable land, and a working model is tested annually during Woordfees.
During Woordfees minibus taxis operate on fixed routes, reliably and safely transporting people into town. This demonstrates a park-and-ride system is feasible and effective.
The only missing ingredient is the political will to make it permanent.
Stellenbosch University and the municipality are among our town’s primary drivers of traffic congestion. As the largest employers and daily traffic generators, their responsibility to lead by example is undeniable.
It is time for both institutions to adopt and champion the use of park-and-ride facilities actively in principle and through visible, sustained action.
Appropriate planning and coordination allow the municipality to implement a full-time park-and-ride system, with secure, well-managed parking areas and regular shuttle services into the CBD.
For such a system to be successful, meaningful incentives must be created to encourage its use. This includes limiting the availability of parking in the CBD and adjusting parking fees to reflect the broader cost of congestion to the town.
If funding is the issue, privatise it! Funding should not be the issue since the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) determines where funding should go.
Time for leadership
Mayor Fasser, your council adopted the IDP, an official binding strategy that explicitly prioritises sustainable transport and identifies park-and-ride as a key intervention.
At the IDP meeting on Wednesday 9 April park-and-ride again emerged as one of the residents’ most consistent and urgent priorities. There is no justification for further delays.
Residents are not calling for another round of consultations or abstract policy discussions; they are calling for implementation. With firm leadership and decisive action, park-and-ride facilities could be up and running within a few months, bringing immediate relief to traffic congestion and setting Stellenbosch towards more sustainable urban mobility.
Stellenbosch’s people are watching. Your leadership will be measured by the solutions you deliver.
We urge you to honour the IDP’s commitments and make park-and-ride a reality, without delay, without excuses, and with the urgency that our town deserves.
Teddy Hall, Stellenbosch
