The Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) prides itself on acting regionally, and resonating nationally, and in their 4 September 2025 Newsletter, Chairperson Deon van Zyl comments on Stellenbosch Municipality and beyond.
WORDS: SOURCED & PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
The pristine, historic town of Stellenbosch puts its head above the parapet every now and again – whether it is the language debate at the University, or the fact that it is home to some of the largest capital investors (and investment) in the country. National media regularly debates its controversial development projects and has dared to ask if individual government members may be benefiting. And, sadly, the town’s crime statistics continues to draw attention as well.
Housing is basically unaffordable, partly due to the town’s attractiveness and partly due to a supply blockage caused by slow processing of land use and building plan applications. For some time, the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) has been engaging with the municipality on improving systems and processes, not least to encourage the City Elders (both past and future) to develop a growth vision and culture for the town and its surroundings.
Stellenbosch seems to be a beautiful town that just cannot stay out of the press. And yet, capital continues to invest (or at least attempts to) into the second oldest town in the country.
Balancing legal obligations, voter interests
Growth is always a controversial subject when one considers both the historic character and the wealth contained in any town. On the one hand, heritage sensitivity cannot be disputed, but on the other, the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) strategy of overplaying the heritage card is also prevalent. And, often, administrators find themselves wedged between legislative processes and political priorities.
However, there appears to be no doubt that this municipality has a difficult task of balancing legal obligations and voter interests. The WCPDF continues to work with the municipality in the hope of addressing industry concerns, because there are several excellent individuals in its system.
But then a video appears in which a senior official explains a strategy in which he declares that race-based appointments will and should supersede the quality of applicants for senior positions in the municipality. Race above meritocracy appears to be the focus. On the one hand, one can excuse this view in context of the country’s history. But during a time that South African municipal viabilities are under pressure, and at a time when citizens are demanding service and value for money from elected leaders and municipal officials (those people with guaranteed above market salaries), one must ask: who gives an official the right to set policy? And is this more prevalent across municipalities than one would expect? What other agendas, other than HR policies, are directly dictated by officials rather than elected public representatives?
Underperforming officials
What is perhaps even more concerning is the impression the video creates that life is, or will be, made difficult for any person who does not fit the agenda, to the point that they will have no choice but to leave the employment of the municipality. From an HR point of view, we know how difficult it is for municipalities to rid themselves of underperforming officials. But what about those individuals who are competent and who do have the best interest of citizens at heart, but who do not comply to whatever the set agenda is for the day? Could they be given the same treatment as well? Could life be made difficult for them to the point that they leave as well? And will we see more whistle blowers paying with their lives, rather than with their careers?
The problem is bigger than we thought
For some time, South Africans have been bemoaning the performance of municipalities in South Africa. Finally, even Pretoria is starting to talk about the need for meritocracy as the criteria for appointment.
And then Stellenbosch Municipality, in the Western Cape, happens. We need to shake our heads and acknowledge that the problem is bigger than we thought.
When billions are waiting to invest in South Africa, not least Stellenbosch, and when urbanisation and desperate need for growth is no longer a theory but the only reality, one needs to wonder what is truly happening in our municipalities, not least in the second oldest town in South Africa.
For more on the Western Cape Property Development Forum, see here.
