Dear Welgevonden Homeowners and Residents
First things first!
Can you believe it – we’re already into the second month of 2021!
However, it is still early enough in the year to wish all homeowners, residents and their families a very special 2021. May your ventures be successful and, as before, may Welgevonden Estate remain your retreat in particular to come home to.
A special welcome to new residents. We trust that, by now, you have settled in and that you’re enjoying life on Welgevonden Estate – be it the secure environment, the leisurely lifestyle and, especially, the sincere neighbourliness and kindness not easily found in communities elsewhere. At the same time we appeal to you to contribute to our community life, and to respect the estate’s constitution, rules and architectural guidelines which are available on the estate’s website (click here). You may also request copies of these documents from the the administrative office.
Content
In this newsletter we wish to highlight the following:
Zoning scheme and by-laws applicable to Welgevonden Estate
Irrigation of the grass on the estate’s open areas
Accreditation of estate agents
Language use in official written communication
Open forum dates during 2021
Office hours: Administrative office
Stellenbosch Municipality Zoning Scheme By-Law 2019
In terms of the above by-law which took effect during 2019, all residential properties on Welgevonden Estate are zoned as “conventional residential”, with the primary permitted land use as that of a dwelling house, which may only be occupied by a family as defined in the by-law.
The Welgevonden Home Owners’ Association, together with all homeowners and residents, are bound by the provisions of this by-law. Excom will, therefore, be implementing measures to ensure compliance with the zoning scheme and by-laws. More details in this regard will be communicated separately.
Communal gardens and open areas
You would have noticed that we are not irrigating the grass on the estate’s open areas. This is because we are careful not to use municipal water for irrigation purposes, as we’ve done in prior years. We do, however, continue to irrigate flower beds at the main entrances to Welgevonden Estate, and smaller areas as far as possible.
At the same time we wish to point out that Excom is investigating solutions for alternative, self-sufficient supplies of non-potable water. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Accreditation of estate agents
Excom will, from 1 February 2021, be implementing a policy to accredit estate agents and estate agencies operating on Welgevonden Estate. The purpose of this step is to ensure that estate agents are aware of and understand the requirements stipulated in the WHOA constitution and the estate rules as far as property ownership and/or rental procedures go, and to abide by it. This has become necessary to protect the interests of homeowners and residents. The aim, furthermore, is to foster a good working relationship between estate management and the accredited estate agents, and to exchange information of mutual interest during quarterly meetings.
All estate agents with a valid registration with the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) are welcome to apply for accreditation with the WHOA. We will soon be sending more information to the local estate agencies. Accredited estate agencies will be promoted on the Welgevonden Estate website and social media platform.
Language use in official communication
Excom has, at its most recent meeting, ratified its decision to use English in its official written communication with homeowners and residents. This applies to communication of a general nature (notices, newsletters, social media posts, etc.). One-on-one communication with homeowners and residents, however, will be either in English or Afrikaans, depending on the homeowner or resident’s home language or preference.
Open forum events: 2021
The monthly open forum events, implemented during 2020, will continue during 2021 – please see the dates below. These events take place at the administrative office, R44 entrance, from 18:00 to 18:30 on the last Wednesday of each month.
24 February
31 March
28 April
26 May
30 June
28 July
25 August
29 September
27 October
24 November
Please use the above opportunities to informally discuss matters that you would want to bring to the attention of the estate manager or Excom. At the same time, you are also welcome to make an appointment with me to discuss matters of a more formal nature. Please send your requests for such meetings to admin@welgevonden.co.za.
Office hours for walk-in enquiries
The office hours for the administrative office (R44 entrance) for walk-in enquiries remain as follows:
Mondays to Thursdays:
10:00 – 13:00
14:00 – 16:00
Fridays:
10:00 – 14:00
Kind regards
Gawie Marx
Estate Manager
2 February 2021