Welgevonden Estate: Estate Manager’s newsletter: May 2025

Dear Welgevonden Estate Homeowners and Residents

No doubt about it – the season is changing. Pockets of warm autumn colour are starting to appear across Welgevonden Estate, and the crisp air is a clear sign that winter is on its way!

Now’s the perfect time to get your home and garden ready for the colder months, and to take in the beauty of the autumn landscape all around us.

An opportunity to give

As in previous years, we are once again coordinating a Welgevonden Estate community initiative in support of Huis Ebenhaeser, a neighbouring care facility located in Cloetesville.

Huis Ebenhaeser provides daily care to over 100 senior citizens from the greater Stellenbosch area. Due to ongoing financial constraints, the home is struggling to meet some of its essential daily needs – especially in providing toiletries and adult nappies – which are required in large numbers.

Estate management is coordinating a collection drive, and we invite residents to contribute:

• Items needed: Toiletries and adult nappies (medium and large sizes)

• Drop-off point: Estate Office (R44 entrance)

• Drop-off times: Weekdays from 10:00 to 16:00

• Final date for contributions: Friday 16 May 2025

Thank you in advance for your support!

Digitised building plans on record at the Welgevonden Estate office

We remind homeowners who have not done so yet, to submit a digitised/electronic version of the Stellenbosch Municipality-approved building plan for their dwellings to the Welgevonden Estate Office on or before 1 December 2025.

This is in accordance with the requirement of Rule 7.4 of the WHOA Estate Rules which reads as follows:

• All members shall ensure that a digitised/electronic version of the Stellenbosch Municipality-approved building plan for their dwelling, showing all structures and improvements on the erf, is submitted to the Welgevonden Estate Office on or before 1 (one) December 2025 in accordance with clause 70 of the WHOA Constitution.

Should owners not have approved electronic building plans, hard copies of building plans can be requested from the Stellenbosch Municipality – click here to download the application form received from the municipality. These plans can be scanned to PDF format at print shops offering this service.

Having approved building plans readily available, and also on file with the Welgevonden Estate office, offers several practical benefits for homeowners:

• It helps speed up the WHOA clearance process when a property is sold. Excom cannot approve a property transfer unless an electronic copy of the approved plans had been submitted to the estate office.

• It streamlines the WHOA approval process for any future improvements or alterations you wish to make to your property.

• Potential buyers may request municipal-approved plans when considering a property purchase.

• Banks and insurance companies often require approved plans before granting a bond or issuing cover.

Progress update: Welgevonden Park

Phase 1 of the Welgevonden Park civil works programme – terrain preparation – has been completed. Phase 2, which involves installing services and constructing the access road and parking area, will commence once the building contractor is on site and building construction has progressed to the appropriate stage.

Stellenbosch Municipality’s final approval of the building plans is expected soon, after which the construction phase will begin.

We anticipate full project completion in the second quarter of 2026.

Click here to view the Welgevonden Park landscape plan in PDF format.

Improving the appearance of Welgevonden Estate

We’re making good progress with the ongoing general maintenance and upgrade programme across the estate. This includes work on paved areas, visitor parking bays and the poort passageways. Several smaller open areas on the estate have also been upgraded and irrigation systems installed, with more planned in the coming weeks.

In addition, adjustments to certain speed bumps and humps have been scheduled to improve both driving comfort and road safety.

Dog walking etiquette on the estate

We again appeal to all dog owners to practice responsible practices when walking their dogs on Welgevonden Estate.

It is impossible to predict how dogs will react in specific situations. Therefore, please ensure the following:

• Dogs are always kept on a leash when walking on the estate.

• They are under the control of responsible individuals who can manage and control them.

• Sufficient distance is allowed when approaching dog walkers, especially on the estate’s narrower walkways.

• Extendable leashes are sturdy and designed to prevent unintended extension should dogs pull forcefully.

• Minors should not be walking dogs if they cannot control the dog.

Please note, in instances where a dog bites another dog or a resident, even by accident, it is the responsibility of the respective parties involved to resolve the matter, or take any necessary legal steps in terms of the law.

Reminder: Approved exterior paint colours

In our February 2025 newsletter, we reminded homeowners about the importance of using only approved exterior paint colours when painting or repainting their properties.

We’d like to emphasise again that only colours that comply with the WHOA Architectural Directives and Design Guidelines (AD&DG) may be used. Non-compliant colours will need to be repainted at the homeowner’s cost – an unnecessary and avoidable expense.

Please also note that some colours that were previously approved have since been removed from the list. For this reason, even if you plan to repaint your home in what appears to be the same colour, we recommend that you check with the estate office beforehand. You can also view the current approved colour scheme displayed on a colour scheme board at the estate office.

For more information, please see Section 5.4 of the WHOA AD&DG which specifically deals with external masonry wall finishes, with sub-section 5.4.1 dealing with exterior wall colour selection. This section also gives guidance on submitting the exterior colours for provisional approval before approved building plans are submitted to the Stellenbosch Municipality, and specifies that one square meter of each colour to be used must be painted on a wall for final approval on site before commencement of painting.

The approved colour scheme comprises six predefined colour pockets from which homeowners may choose. Each pocket contains four colours: white and three graduated shades of a single colour. Exterior walls may be painted white or one of the first two shades within the selected pocket. The fourth and darkest shade is reserved exclusively for trimmings and bands. Homeowners must use only the colours within their chosen pocket, mixing between pockets is not permitted.

We encourage all homeowners to take note of the above and ensure their chosen paint colours are approved before buying in bulk. This simple step can help avoid costly and unnecessary repainting.

Approved colour scheme display board at the Welgevonden Estate office

Note: Due to photo quality, the colours shown in the photograph do not accurately reflect the actual colours displayed on the board

Conclusion

As always, thank you for being an active part of our Welgevonden Estate community. Stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy the changing season and the beauty it brings. We look forward to keeping in touch and seeing you around the estate.

Best regards

Gawie Marx

Estate Manager

12 May 2025