Dear residents of Stellenbosch, Let me tell you about the Longlands Village  development that was covertly pushed through during 2020 by greedy developers, incompetent civil servants in the Stellenbosch Municipality and Province who were simply not concentrating on the job we entrust to them , which is to manage the resources of Stellenbosch responsibly. 

This development which comprises 320 houses worth 950 million on the remainder of erf 1 of Longlands farm does not in any way fulfill the criteria for sustainable human settlement. Predictably the development has grown far over its initial permissions and now comprises 144 low cost housing, 70 " middle class' housing ( sold on the open market) and 100 luxury erven to be priced from 3-5 million.  The Environmental impact study was deeply flawed as it was not duly distributed to all affected and interested parties and it was only  open for public participation 4 December 2020 and 15 January, a period which is guaranteed to attract the least attention.  

You have the power to stop and restrict the development of another gated estate of luxury houses in a rural setting in Vlottenburg. IF YOU ACT NOW  The scope of this development will make it larger than De Zalze estate. It will further complicated the flow of traffic, facilitate the building of new and extensive road network, cause 2x traffic lights on the Polkadraai road and cause light, noise and visual pollution. In short it is a important bastion which will fall, leading to a domino effect of development which will change Stellenbosch irrevocably and completely ruin out shared natural landscape. IF YOU ACT NOW you can help stop the permission for the luxury erven, which is tabled at the municipality.  SAVE OUR NATURAL HERITAGE, IT IS TO PRECIOUS TO LOSE! 

Read more here: https://www.abacusdevco.co.za/current

Read more here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-12-07-farm-community-demands-homes-promised-over-a-decade-ago/

Longlands Summary, January 2021
Longlands Holdings wants to develop Longlands Manor, an upmarket housing development on the remainder of erf 1 of Longlands in Vlottenburg.

In summary:
The Western Cape government approved the current Longlands urban development in 2006 arguing that it would contribute to permanent housing for farmworkers and their families living on the farm. The government approved the development of the upmarket estate on condition that the developer provide plots for 106 houses in an agri-village for farmworkers. A second condition was that the owners would retain the remainder of the farm for agricultural purposes.
It appears now that the authorities  support a new upmarket residential development on the portion intended for agricultural purposes even when the proposed development does not comply with critical principles in the MSDF. It does not pass the sustainability test – human well-being, long term economic viability and environmental integrity.
Longlands: History of development since 2003
1.1 - Mr Francois Smith, a developer, acquired the 81,4771ha Longlands Farm, on 21 July 2003 for R15,6 million. After negotiations, the Provincial Government approved the development of agri-village of 106 low-cost houses and a guest house. They turned down the proposed development of an up-market gated village.
1.2 - The developer appealed against the decision and the Minister (Ms Tasneem Essop)approved an up-market gated village of 100 erven on a portion of Longlands underlain by laterite.Conditions for the development required 20% Gap-housing and that the remainder of the farm remains agriculture.
1.3 - The developer took the requirement for Gap-housing, on review. In October 2007, the Western Cape High Court approved the agri-village of 106 low-cost houses and a gated village of 100 up-market residential erven.
1.4 - The developer (possibly with the assistance Stellenbosch Municipality and the Provincial Government) did not provide farmworker housing.
1.5 - Under pressure from former farmworkers and their families, the developer, applied to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for subdivision of what is now Erf 346 to provide 144 subsidised erven on a site of 5,6 ha. However, the partition plan now covers 9,6393ha. Also, it now provides for 70 up-market erven. The DRDLR confirmed that they did not advertise this proposed subdivision. Also, as the Court had approved the agri-village of 106 erven
in 2006 and ratified it in 2007, it is unclear why the developer approached DRDLR for assistance in 2011.
1.6 - Since the approval by DRDLR in 2014, other developers expressed an interest in acquiring the remaining land held by Longlands Holdings (Pty) Ltd including the 9,6393ha of land designated by DRDLR, 67,7ha in total.
1.7 - In 2018, the owners applied to Stellenbosch Municipality to zone the subdivided erven and the amendment of the 2015 subdivision plans. The Municipality did not advertise these applications nor submitted it to interested and affected parties (IAP's) for consideration. The Municipality nevertheless apparently approved it on 28 June 2018.
1.8 - The new developers, Longlands Village (Pty) Ltd, although not yet the property owners,appealed against the decision on 24 July 2018.
1.9 - During the appeal process, the new developers also amended their initial application. The amendment, not advertised, sought approval to subdivide an additional 30ha agricultural land. On 26 October 2018 Longlands Village (Pty) Ltd. signed a deed of sale for R68,5million to purchase the property despite unresolved issues regarding agrarian land between the homeowners of
Longlands Country Estate and the developer (Longlands Holdings). The transfer of subsidy erven to the beneficiaries had also not yet taken place.
1.9 - To date, the Applicant has not provided evidence that DRDLR had formally approved the subdivision plan for 70 "developers erven" in a proposed second gated village. In the Mayor's appeal document signed by her on 30 November 2018, she refers to these erven as "open marketerven" (par. 3.8), "developers erven" (par. 3.19) and "Gap erven" in par. 5.4 The appeal document adds to the uncertainty of whether DRDLR approved the 70 "developers erven" subdivision plan.
The appeal document mentions the approval of 106 erven and three commercial erven. The so called "subsidy erven" now occupy less than 4,5 ha, whereas the area gazetted by DRDLR is 5,6ha
1.10 - The Municipality did not approve the last proposed amendment of 22 October 2018,seeking subdivision approval for 30ha of the remainder of Longlands. Nevertheless, transfer of the 67,7ha to Longlands Village (Pty) Ltd. took place on 4 April 2019. The developers now seek authorisation to  to subdivide a significant portion of the remainder of Longlands for upmarket housing.