It is not unknown to the inhabitants of our small town that there have been some issues concerning the amount of congestion within the borders of Stellenbosch. It is also, therefore, not surprising that an organization such as Young Urbanists, who believe incorrecting the disconnect between humans and the spaces they live in, would take it upon themselves to arrange a town meeting. A meeting which, held on Wednesday, 2April 2025, would bring together like minded people from various demographics, who are all committed to finding innovative solutions. The purpose for the meeting was to address the problems surrounding traffic, but greater than that, it was to find ways to integrate nature and social connections into the urban spaces of Stellenbosch.
Anaïs Breytenbach, a member of the Young Urbanists and Postgraduate student at Stellenbosch University, mentioned a few sustainable solutions that could tackle both the congestion and social issues that were presented. A few of these solutions include keeping private cars off the streets (i.e. parking along the side of the road), improving public transit and incorporating more people-centered spaces into town. The Dorp Street Market, which closed in early March 2025, had been a great example for a place where people could connect and make the best use of the space the town had to offer.The closure of this beloved market brings up a very important question, “How can this initiative be implemented on a more permanent and sustainable basis?”
The Young Urbanists believe in challenging “the status quo of how our cities are built and operate”, this statement was prevalent in the way they not only approached the town meeting, but also any other events they might tackle. Despite increasing tension, from both the attendees of Wednesday’s meeting and other town folk, as well as opposition from municipal structures, Young Urbanists remain committed to bringing about change. It is the hope of everyone who was involved at the ‘Stellenbosch is stuck’ meeting that improvement will be seen across the board. From improvement in congestion to the safety of all pedestrians, a change is inevitable!
(If you want to be a part of this movement, head over to the link on their Instagram pageto join their Whatsapp group!)
By Anica Hattingh
