Stellenbosch Municipality is making it easier to do business, with the Red Tape Reduction Unit

Stellenbosch Municipality has seized an amazing opportunity to rev up its business game and make the region the ultimate hotspot for event organizers! Thanks to the Red Tape Reduction Unit and their Municipal Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) fund, we're about to witness a game-changer.

Stellenbosch Municipality was experiencing some challenges around the permit applications for events and outdoor dining. It was getting overwhelming ! But when the EoDB fund came knocking, the savvy minds at the municipality saw a golden opportunity to cut through the red tape and make doing business a breeze.

Enter the Economic Overlay Zone – cue applause! The implementation of this indicates and end to bureaucratic nightmares and hello to streamlined processes and reduced waste. No more complicated approval steps 😊

Now, let's talk benefits. For event organizers, life just got a whole lot simpler. With the Economic Overlay Zone in place, getting permits is  easier than it was before, with less paperwork as it eliminates the need for land use applications for events in selected areas! This means they'll be itching to bring their events to Stellenbosch, knowing the process is easier than it was before.

But wait, there's more! With the hassle of permits out of the way, businesses can focus on what really matters: making money!

Oh, and did we mention the great stakeholder engagements? The municipality, SAPS, tourism establishments, and event industry pros all came together to make this happen. Insights were gathered, regulations were drafted, and on the September 29, 2023, the council gave the green light, amending the Zoning Scheme By-law to include the new Chapter 29: Events and Outdoor Dining Overlay Zone.

This is more than just a win – it's a game-changer for Stellenbosch. With the Economic Overlay Zone in action, our economy is set to skyrocket. Tourism? Booming. Leisure? Thriving.

Partnerships are critical, if we want to reduce red tape and make the Province the easiest place to do business in by 2035 – a goal, that the Red Tape Reduction Unit is passionate in contributing to.