<\/p>\n
Residents of Jamestown, a quiet town on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, are concerned about the impact new developments may have on the community\u2019s character and heritage.<\/p>\n
Some families have been in Jamestown for generations, farming strawberries on small farms. This heritage is celebrated with the annual Strawberry Festival, which is being revived next year after a hiatus forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
The area\u2019s proximity to Stellenbosch has made it attractive to developers.<\/p>\n
Aan De Weber, a gated estate with 102 houses, was built on the edge of Jamestown in 2014, and a new development is planned on the urban edge, which some residents have opposed.<\/p>\n
Anrico Kerspuy sells fresh produce at the Jamestown Street Market, grown at the local high school for its agricultural programme. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
A monthly street market brings together neighbours and local farmers offering fresh vegetables and herbs, homemade food and other handmade goods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to give the people who are planting an opportunity to showcase their produce,\u201d said Dale Simons, chair of the Jamestown Trust, which organises the market and the annual festival. \u201cTo create awareness that we have an agricultural heritage that is still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read:<\/p>\n
Legal battle looms over Stellenbosch luxury estate<\/p>\n
Simons said the market has been popular with residents. \u201cWe learned that people are after community, engaging, and connecting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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The trust was set up \u201cto make Jamestown safe, healthy, and to protect our heritage\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of gated communities are going up, around Stellenbosch, and saying this is the better alternative \u2013 it\u2019s not,\u201d said Simons.<\/p>\n
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Satellite imagery shows how Jamestown has changed since 2012. The Aan de Weber estate was built in the bottom right corner. The new Blaauwklip Estate is planned just above it. Images: Google Earth<\/p>\n
Jamestown resident Amy Levendal, whose family has lived and farmed in Jamestown for generations, said it is important that the community remains both \u201cclose-knit\u201d and \u201cdiverse\u201d, and that new developments should not change the community\u2019s character.\u201cA lot of changes are being made. We don\u2019t want to lose that culture and the essence of the community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Jamestown Street Market takes place on the last Saturday of every month. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
Over the generations, members of the same family purchased several properties in a street, and today they still live next to or opposite each other. This has started to change as property becomes more attractive to outsiders.<\/p>\n
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Residents are worried about plans for a new gated estate, which is set to be built along an irrigation furrow (\u201cleivoor\u201d) that supplies water to about 40 small-scale farms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they put [the furrow] to a stop in any way, all these farmers will be without water,\u201d said Jamestown resident Ren\u00e9 van Rooyen.<\/p>\n
The development application by First Plan Town and Regional Planners is for the Blaauwbosch Estate to be subdivided into 19 portions, including 15 residential houses, two agricultural zones for \u201crural living\u201d, and two private open spaces.<\/p>\n
According to the application the development \u201cis not expected to have a negative impact on heritage resources, as the site does not contain any structures or features of cultural or historical significance\u201d.<\/p>\n
The development would be designed in \u201charmony with the character of Jamestown and the retention of two agriculture\/rural portions help preserve the area\u2019s rural landscape, which forms part of the broader cultural setting\u201d.<\/p>\n
Small-scale farmer Naomi Linders sells fresh produce like herbs, vegetables and fruit at the Jamestown Street market. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
The assessment notes that the furrow crosses the two rural plots in the development, and that it is \u201cprotected in terms of the Architectural\/Design Guidelines and Site\/Building Control Plan\u201d.<\/p>\n
But in a submission objecting to the development, Van Rooyen said the application did not give a \u201cclear plan\u201d on how it would mitigate sewage or stormwater contamination of the leivoor.<\/p>\n
Van Rooyen said the concern is that a stormwater attenuation pond and sewer pump station will be built next to the leivoor.<\/p>\n
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Tania Weideman works for the local NPO Usiko, which works in youth and skills development and wilderness therapy. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
\u201cAny disruption, however small, could have devastating financial consequences for the river-erf farmers who depend on this water,\u201d she said in the submission.<\/p>\n
The public participation period for the application closed on 27 July.<\/p>\n
Stellenbosch municipality spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar said the municipality would \u201ccarefully consider\u201d heritage matters and submissions from residents before a decision is made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe municipality manages all land use and development applications strictly in accordance with the applicable legislation and prescribed statutory processes. These processes require extensive public participation and provide affected parties and stakeholders with ample opportunity to submit comments, objections or representations,\u201d said Grobbelaar.<\/p>\n
The Aan de Weber Estate was built on the urban edge of Jamestown in 2014. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 GroundUp. This article was first published here.<\/p>\n
#Stellenbosch #residents #oppose #luxury #estate #scenic #suburb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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