The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) notes with concern the Stellenbosch Municipality’s plans to put a stop to the operations of GoNow e-Scooters in Stellenbosch.
The party calls on all role players to pursue constructive engagement rather than unilateral action.
While the Freedom Front Plus recognises the need for appropriate safety measures, the party is simultaneously concerned that the Municipality is considering closure without meaningful engagement with the founders of GoNow. The owners are willing to engage in discussions with the Municipality to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
Instead of targeting a team of young, innovative entrepreneurs who facilitate approximately 40 000 rides per month and provide an excellent service to the Stellenbosch community, the focus should rather be on enabling them to operate within a clear set of rules and regulations.
GoNow has been operating in Stellenbosch for more than four years. More than 30 000 residents and students use this service daily. It reduces traffic congestion, while offering an affordable and safe transport alternative.
The Freedom Front Plus acknowledges that South Africa’s current legislative framework has not kept up with innovation in micromobility, and the absence of a regulatory framework highlights the Municipality’s shortcomings in this regard.
The party calls on the Stellenbosch Municipality to engage with the national Department of Transport, GoNow and relevant stakeholders to develop a clear and fair framework that addresses safety concerns without destroying a viable and valued service.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the Stellenbosch Municipality has allowed bureaucratic resistance to override community initiatives. Cooperation is the answer.
The Dorp Street Sunday Market was shut down after the Municipality refused to approve its 2025 application — even though it had been approved in the past.
The Root 44 Market is embroiled in a zoning dispute spanning years, which eventually forced the owners to put their property on the market.
In addition, the ever-popular Root 44 Fun Run, which attracted approximately 1 500 participants every Saturday, still cannot proceed because municipal permission cannot be obtained.
In all these cases, the community has lost something valuable, not because of any transgressions, but because of unresolved regulatory issues.
The Freedom Front Plus strives to find practical solutions within the constraints of the law, and advocates for a Stellenbosch that embraces innovation and community initiatives.
