About Us

The Stellenbosch Ratepayers Association, which includes various community organisations and interest groups, monitors and actively engages the Town Council, district municipality and provincial government regarding matters affecting our town and district.

In recent times political instability and lack of due process has been a major concern of the community.

Are you, as a resident of Stellenbosch, aware that:

• Tax income of the Stellenbosch Municpality was in excess of R500 million in 2008?
• Property tax and service fees finance more than 70% of Municipal income?
• Replacement of senior municipal managers has cost the ratepayer in Stellenbosch more than R4 million?
• the alienation of 7 strategic public properties in Stellenbosch, known as Tender 34, is regarded by legal experts as improper, unfair, non - transparent and contrary to municipal policy? ( Note: This has now been halted by legal action and is being reviewed by the Municipality)
• The SRA is actively engaging the Municipality regarding all developments in the Stellenbosch area with a view to preventing urban sprawl and destruction of wine farms and natural areas?

"Stellenbosch is undoubtedly one of the most scenic and historically recognised places in the world, being the second oldest settlement in the Western Cape. The total population of the Stellenbosch Municipal area is estimated at 135 000 (2006) and growing at an average rate of 2 % per annum; while a significant 25 000 (18%) comprises students and academics. Historically the majority of residents in the Stellenbosch area were predominantly Afrikaans speaking and remain so. Residents with Xhosa as their home language have always formed part of the local population, although they have only been allowed to migrate to the area freely since the 1990s.

The Stellenbosch municipal area includes the towns of Stellenbosch (58 0000); Franschhoek (9 000) as well as a number of rural hamlets such as Wemmershoek, La Motte, De Novo, Kylemore, Pniel, Johannesdal, Languedoc, Groot Drakenstein, Muldersvlei, Klapmuts, Elsenburg, Raithby, Jamestown, Koelenhof and Vlottenberg (most with a population of less than 5 000)1.

The Eikestad (City of Oaks) together with Franschhoek and the surrounding award winning wine farms, form the centre of the wine industry in South Africa. It is also celebrated for hosting the world class University of Stellenbosch, with the various faculty buildings forming an integral part of the town’s urban fabric. Stellenbosch has transformed its economy, which was originally based on agricultural activities, to service related niche sectors, such as finance, business, tourism and science and technology2. The latter is apparent through the research and innovation in the Stellenbosch Technopark and its close relationship with the University of Stellenbosch.

The small towns, villages, hamlets and their hinterlands are all an integral part of the Stellenbosch economy, where production, marketing and agricultural services are provided. They also render important administrative and social service functions and are strongly interdependent within functional settlement hierarchy within the Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch Main town prevails as the most developed town, not only in the local municipal area, but also within the Cape Winelands. Its services extend well beyond the municipal, district, provincial and even national boundaries."

(Stellenbosch Municipality Local Economic Development Strategy, 3rd Draft, Main Report, 24 October, 2008)