GOOD Statement by Robin Hendrikse,
GOOD Stellenbosch Municipality Councillor
02 April 2025
The GOOD PARTY strongly objects to the Stellenbosch Municipality’s decision to lease the Van der Stel Sport Complex on Erf 235, Stellenbosch, for a period of 30 years, despite strong opposition from the local community and sporting bodies. Van der Stel Sport Complex has been a cornerstone of Stellenbosch’s rich sporting history, serving as a vital hub for local clubs and aspiring athletes. This decision prioritizes financial gain over the needs and desires of the town’s residents, depriving them of a long-standing, well-utilised sporting facility.
During the Council Meeting held on Monday 31 March, the council approved the lease of van der Stel Sport Complex to the Stellenbosch Football Club (SFC). While we acknowledge the strides made by SFC in the Premier Soccer League and the role it plays in developing young sporting talent, we cannot support this deal.
The club has reportedly secured R395 million for the development of a fully-fledged soccer stadium. If SFC has the financial resources to lease a municipal sporting facility and fund such a project, they surely have the means to secure a more appropriate alternative space that meets SAFA safety standards without displacing the existing users of Van der Stel Sport Complex.
Only the World Tennis Foundation and the Stellenbosch Rollball Club were expressly excluded from the lease agreement. The fate of the taxi rank and informal trader hub located on Erf 235 is unknown. The municipality has not provided adequate assurances that the livelihoods of these individuals will be protected in the long term.
The proposed development also raises serious concerns about the strain it will place on Stellenbosch’s already challenged transport and parking infrastructure. The influx of spectators, increased traffic congestion, and insufficient parking provisions will negatively impact residents, businesses, and visitors.
The GOOD PARTY stands with the people of Stellenbosch in opposing this ill-conceived lease and calls on the Stellenbosch Municipality to reconsider its priorities. Public land and facilities must serve the broader community, not just those with deep pockets.
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