Dear Mayor Fasser,

On behalf of the residents of Stellenbosch, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your election as Executive Mayor. It is reassuring to have a leader who resides in our town—someone who is directly immersed in our daily lives and challenges and who we trust will bring a deep understanding of our community's needs and aspirations.

Your election comes at a pivotal moment for Stellenbosch. While the previous leadership laid a solid foundation by prioritising water and sanitation, refuse removal, cleaning and beautifying our town, infrastructure spending, and achieving clean audits, we now look to you to build on this progress. These essential services are deeply valued, and we are thankful for the stability they brought to our town.

As concerned residents, we hope your tenure will be marked by proactive, transparent leadership and meaningful collaboration. Stellenbosch faces several complex challenges—from safety and security to transport and sustainability—that require bold, inclusive action and clear communication. We trust you will approach these challenges with vision and determination, ensuring that the needs of all who call Stellenbosch home are met with fairness and diligence. We look forward to seeing your leadership bring new energy to our town, and we stand ready to support initiatives that promote a thriving, secure, and sustainable Stellenbosch.

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Safety and Security: A Top Priority

Stellenbosch has seen an increasing need for a coordinated and decisive approach to safety and security. We urge you to lead regular meetings with all key stakeholders, including SAPS (South African Police Services), Stellenbosch University, ratepayers' associations, private security companies, and other security and law enforcement agencies.

These meetings should foster collaboration and result in actionable plans that are transparent and effectively communicated to us, the residents of Stellenbosch. This level of engagement and communication is essential to ensuring trust and unity among all sectors of our town.

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Commitment to the Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP)

Traffic congestion in central Stellenbosch remains a persistent concern. We appeal to you to prioritise the implementation of the Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP), which offers well-considered solutions to alleviate these challenges.

One practical step within your reach is the establishment of extensive park-and-ride facilities. With tangible efforts, this initiative could be operational within a few months, offering immediate relief to congestion in the town centre. It is worth noting that Stellenbosch University and the municipality are two significant contributors to traffic congestion.

As leading stakeholders, both institutions should lead by example by adopting and promoting the use of park-and-ride facilities. This approach aligns better with the CITP than the proposed parking garage development behind the town hall—a contentious project that your predecessor pursued.

Still, it goes against our community's will and vision of sustainable transport for our town.

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A Call for Visible Leadership

‍Mayor Fasser, Stellenbosch residents are looking to you to bring a new era of leadership that prioritises inclusivity, collaboration, and the implementation of solutions that address our town's actual needs.

You can lead Stellenbosch into a brighter, more sustainable future, and we are ready to work alongside you to achieve these goals. We look forward to seeing your vision for Stellenbosch come to life and to experience the positive changes your leadership will bring.

Sincerely,
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Concerned Stellenbosch Residents

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