![\"The](\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Grass_51288-e1759992284837-576x1024.jpg\")
I had forgotten about the incident until the next Saturday morning, when I saw the same Red Ford GT further up the same road with double the workers and I then saw what was happening. They were actually removing the pavers from the middleman just to replace it with artificial grass instead.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This made me see red. Why would the muni\u00adcipality waste taxpayers money on removing pavers from the curbside (which is going to last forever) and replace it with artificial grass that will probably only look new for one year?\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can the council think that this is a good idea and why would anybody at council approve of this wastage whilst there are people sleeping in the street a few blocks away, who are in desperate need of the money that is washed down the drain with this ludicrous idea? I have since learned that there are other areas in town that were also covered with this plastic grass (corner of Piet Retief and Dorp streets).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of South African towns are struggling to provide basic services to their community but in Stellenbosch we have so much money that we can waste it on replacing curbside pavers with plastic grass to make the town centre look pretty for a year. Are we trying to impress the few tourists that come to Stellenbosch and who are driving along Strand Street in their fancy buses?\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is going to happen when this grass is trampled, dirty and faded after a year? Is the council going to replace it with pavers again?\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is an absolute shame to see how money is wasted in this town \u2013 from the annual flowers next to the Braak to the Art Mile next to the Eerste River and now plastic grass on our curbs.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francois Bossert, EMAIL<\/strong> Stellenbosch Municipality responds:<\/strong> “We are deeply sorry to hear that the reader does not like the flowerbeds at the Braak or on the traffic islands. We will also share his frustrations about the Stellenbosch Art Mile with the creators and installers of the project.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “We believe most residents and visitors do, however, enjoy the flowerbeds, traffic circles, walkways and the Art Mile.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Natural grass unfortunately only thrives for about three months of the year, after which it becomes dull or trampled down. Pavers are often stolen, creating ongoing replacement costs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “The use of small sections of artificial grass combined with perennials, indigenous plants, succulents and colourful flowers helps create a more vibrant and attractive space throughout the year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Indeed, as the reader mentions, most SA towns are struggling to provide even the most basic of services but here in Stellenbosch, we deliver some of the best services in the country. We use public funds for public good, unlike in many other towns.”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Stellenbosch local Francois Bossert questions a decision by Stellenbosch Municipality to remove pavers and install artificial grass on the middle island at the Plankenburg turn-off along the R44.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":267803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"71","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"30","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"3","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"24","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"1","article_feature_type":"normal","article_main_image_caption":"dummy text","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"Ya\u00ebl Malgas","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"Why remove brick pavers?","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":["ymgrass_P1"],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[24],"tags":[8984,7882,7878,7992],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-267802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-letter","tag-letters-to-the-editor","tag-municipal","tag-stellenbosch"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Grass_51288-e1759992284837.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":294331,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/readers-letter-contractor-rewarded-for-shoddy-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":267802,"position":0},"title":"Reader’s letter: ‘Contractor rewarded for shoddy work?’","author":"Eikestadnuus","date":"13 November 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Eikestadnuus reader Francois Bossert questions the quality of workmanship of paving laid along Suidwal Road in Stellenbosch, claiming a year after its completion, the pedestrian walkways are already caving-in.","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The walkway in Suidwal Road.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/walkways_17073-e1763010976607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/walkways_17073-e1763010976607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/walkways_17073-e1763010976607.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":267713,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/letter-litter-problem-is-big-stellenbosch\/","url_meta":{"origin":267802,"position":1},"title":"Letter | ‘Litter problem is big in Stellenbosch’","author":"Eikestadnuus","date":"2 October 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I recently took a walk across The Braak, a grassy park in the centre of Stellenbosch that was once used as a military-parade ground in the 1700s.\"","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":77103,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/readers-letter-spoilt-ballots-tell-a-different-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":267802,"position":2},"title":"READER’S LETTER: ‘Spoilt ballots tell a different story’","author":"Eikestadnuus","date":"23 May 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The DA's statement following their victory in the Stellenbosch Ward 9 by-election paints a picture of growing momentum and overwhelming support. But a closer look at the numbers \u2013 and what they represent \u2013 tells a more complex and, in many ways, more revealing story. The DA won the by-election\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/newspaper-letters.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":296428,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/readers-letter-ii-concerns-over-water-supply-amid-growth\/","url_meta":{"origin":267802,"position":3},"title":"READER’S LETTER II Concerns over water supply amid growth","author":"Eikestadnuus","date":"9 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"For the past few weeks the Bo Die Rand area has been experiencing daily interruptions in water supply, for hours on end. We have now reached a point where there is often no water available at nighttime as well. The water pressure is so low that even if there is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Eikestadnuus","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267802"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267802\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267802"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=267802"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=267802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n\n\n\n