Welgevonden Estate: Estate Manager’s newsletter: November 2026
Dear Homeowners and Residents
Summer has arrived, bringing with it the vibrant colours and beauty of the season. And what better way to celebrate its arrival than by showcasing the beautiful gardens that make Welgevonden Estate such a special place to live?
We are delighted to share the results of this year’s Garden-of-the-Year competition!
Garden-of-the-Year 2026 competition
A big thank you to everyone who participated in this year's competition. The entries once again showcased the pride and passion homeowners take in their gardens, with an impressive variety of styles, colours and creative touches. The quality of the gardens certainly made the judges' task a challenging one!
And the winners are!
Congratulations to the winners of the competition, proudly sponsored by SANCUS Realty:
Garden-of-the-Year 2026 (first prize): Marita Nigrini, 2 Gousblom Street
Runner-up: Virginia Garnam, 53 Holly Oak Street
Third Prize: Eva Mazza, 19 Everlasting Street
At the prizegiving: Suzanne Rossouw-Moss from Trees SA (guest judge), Gawie Marx (Estate manager), Eva Mazza, Marita Nigrini, Virginia Garnam, Van Zyl Voges (SANCUS Realty) Nicole Alexander (Assistant estate landscape manager, judge), Paul Jordaan (Estate landscape manager, judge)
We would also like to acknowledge all residents who take pride in maintaining and enhancing their gardens. Together, your efforts contribute significantly to the overall appearance and appeal of Welgevonden Estate, complementing Excom's ongoing efforts to maintain and improve our shared living environment.
Looking ahead to 2027
Building on the enthusiasm generated by this year's competition, we are planning a series of complimentary horticulture and gardening workshops in 2027. These sessions will offer practical advice from experts, including tips on preparing gardens for any season, while providing an opportunity for residents to exchange ideas and share their gardening experiences. We look forward to making these workshops an enjoyable and informative addition to our community calendar!
Communication – an open and standing invitation!
The Estate office welcomes questions, concerns and suggestions from all Welgevonden homeowners and residents throughout the year. Our door is open, and we’d love to hear your ideas for the estate.
Concerns and suggestions shared on social media will miss the people who can help. Getting in touch with the Estate office directly gives us the opportunity to respond, follow up, or bring the matter to Excom’s attention, where needed.
Our contact details:
E-mail: admin@welgevonden.co.za
Tel: 021 889 5450
A practical example
To put this into perspective, a recent example illustrates just how effective direct communication can be. Following individual requests from residents for longer afternoon swimming hours, the pool's closing time has been extended from 18:00 to 19:00.
Emergency evacuation plan
A consolidated emergency evacuation plan has been prepared for Welgevonden Estate, setting out the procedures to be followed by residents, visitors, staff and contractors in the event of an emergency requiring the evacuation of an individual home, a building, part of the estate or the entire estate.
The document brings together an evacuation map, emergency procedures for residents and an emergency contact register, providing a central reference to help guide an orderly and coordinated response when the need arises.
A project of this nature is an ongoing process. The plan will therefore be reviewed, updated and refined as necessary to ensure that it remains relevant and provides for the best possible response in an emergency.
Click here to read the document.
Reminder: WHOA AGM 2026
We remind homeowners about this year’s WHOA Annual General Meeting (AGM) that will take place at 18:00 on Monday 16 November 2026.
The meeting will be held in the Doornbosch Hall on the R44 in Stellenbosch. The meeting documents and a map and directions to the venue have been made available to all homeowners.
A secluded spot at Welgevonden Park not to be missed!
Important dates: December 2026 / January 2027 holiday season
For the benefit of those who might have missed it in our October 2026 newsletter, here, again, is the calendar information affecting Welgevonden Estate during the upcoming festive season. We particularly want to highlight dates relating to the building industry to help homeowners plan their building activities and the submission of building plans accordingly.
Builders’ holiday: The annual builders’ holiday begins on 11 December 2026, with building activities resuming on 11 January 2027. The last day for any building activity and cleaning up of sites on Welgevonden Estate, therefore, is Friday 11 December 2026. During the builders’ holiday period no construction or building activities will be allowed on Welgevonden Estate, and building contractors will not be allowed to enter the estate. All building sites must be properly closed off before the start of the builders’ holiday, according to requirements. No building materials and/or tools may be stored or left outside the building site enclosures. Furthermore, transportable toilets for contractors must be positioned within the enclosed site areas.
Submitting building plans: The closing date for submitting building plans for revision at the Welgevonden Estate Office is 30 November 2026.
Administrative office: The Welgevonden Estate office will close at 10:00 on 18 December 2026 and reopen on 11 January 2027. Matters that require urgent attention during this period can be referred to the estate’s security office, telephone number 021 889 5209.
Biometric registration: The security office (R304 entrance) will be open on weekdays (excluding public holidays) from 09:00 – 13:00 from 18 December 2026 to 8 January 2027 for those having to register on the biometric system. We ask homeowners to register their tenants, au pairs, domestic workers and gardeners before the Estate office closes for the holiday period, provided they have all the necessary details. Please do not leave registrations until the last minute.
Welgevonden dam: Opening hours: The Welgevonden dam is open daily from 05:30 to 19:30.
Welgevonden Park operating hours
o Swimming pool: 06:00 – 08:30: Lap swimming and training; 08:30 – 10:30: Closed for cleaning; 10:30 – 19:00: General swimming
o Tennis and padel courts: Monday – Friday: 06:00-20:00; Saturday: 07:00 – 21:00; Sunday and public holidays: 08:00 – 20:00
Welgevonden Festival 2026
The Welgevonden Festival 2026 will take place on Saturday 12 December 2026 on the green area below the SADIECOFFEE kiosk. Organised and presented by Welgevonden Estate homeowners and residents, the festival is a community initiative brought to life by people who volunteer their time, energy and skills to create an occasion for everyone to enjoy.
Market stalls will open at 10:00, followed by a fun-filled programme from 16:00 featuring a talent show, Santa’s arrival, Christmas carols and live music on stage. The festivities will conclude at 22:00. Details are displayed on posters at the estate entrances.
Mark your calendars and invite family and friends to join you for this joyous community event – a magical day of stalls, music, singing, lights and festive cheer!
Best regards
Gawie Marx
Estate Manager
6 November 2026
