Stellenbosch Municipality

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𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗵

Statement by Municipal Manager Geraldine Mettler

At an emotional Council meeting today, Executive Mayor Alderwoman Gesie van Deventer announced her retirement, sharing that she will be stepping down at the end of November 2024. Over her remarkable eight-year tenure as the longest-serving mayor in Stellenbosch’s democratic history, Mayor van Deventer has led with extraordinary dedication and resilience, bringing stability to both the Council and the administration.

Through her visionary leadership, Mayor van Deventer elevated the Municipality to unprecedented levels, making Stellenbosch one of the most desired towns in South Africa to live in, start a business, or work. Under her guidance, Stellenbosch and its surrounding towns have seen exceptional growth, with transformative development, infrastructure upgrades, and a strong focus on basic services. Year after year, over 80% of the Municipality’s ever-increasing budget has been dedicated to service delivery and infrastructure improvements, reflecting her commitment to uplift residents and build a sustainable future. Her focus on fiscal discipline and rigorous financial oversight has earned Stellenbosch four consecutive clean audits from the Auditor General, securing a stable financial foundation and setting a high standard for transparency and accountability.

Mayor van Deventer’s legacy of enhanced service delivery and community impact will leave an enduring mark on the Municipality. Her presence will be deeply missed by colleagues and residents alike, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her invaluable contributions. We wish her a well-deserved, peaceful retirement and hope she enjoys the precious time with family and friends in the years to come.