Changes to the Stellenbosch University (SU) graduation season will increase pressure on parking, traffic flow, and accommodation in Stellenbosch. This is according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality.
This comes after a recent announcement by SU that it will hold its final December graduation ceremonies between 8 and 12 December this year, and that, from 2027 onwards, SU will host one graduation annually over a few days between March and April.
In order to plan accordingly, there is regular engagement and coordination between SU and the municipality, particularly about large-scale events like graduations and student orientation periods, according to Grobbelaar.
“The municipality works closely with SU and other stakeholders, like law enforcement, traffic services, and tourism operators to ensure appropriate planning and support are in place for the smooth execution of such events,” said Grobbelaar, in correspondence with SMF News.
“March and April are already active periods in Stellenbosch’s event calendar, with harvest season, the Varsity Cup, tourism activity at its peak, and various festivals and outdoor events often taking place,” Grobbelaar said.
The later release of the annual matric results has been delaying the start of the academic year since 2020, reducing contact teaching time and compressing administrative timelines in the run-up to the December graduation week, according to the announcement by Ronel Retief, SU registrar.
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) graduates of 2025 will be the last cohort to have a December graduation ceremony, which is held at the Coetzenburg Centre, according to Ronel Retief, SU registrar, in a recent announcement by SU. Thereafter, all graduation events will be held in a single annual ceremony over a few days, he said. “All students in a specific class will also now graduate together, irrespective of whether they have written an A2, A3, or dean’s concession assessments,” said Retief in the announcement. PHOTO: Uendjizuvira Kandanga
Prioritising student housing
Retief said that most rental agreements on and around campus end in November, which means that if students go home and return for December graduations, they often have to pay for alternative accommodation.
The change in graduation schedule then prioritises student housing, as students will no longer need to return in December for their graduations, according to Retief.
“The new arrangement will allow for more effective planning and reduce logistical stress,” said Retief. “All students in a specific class will also now graduate together, irrespective of whether they have written an A2, A3, or dean’s concession assessments.”
While having a single annual ceremony could relieve the pressure of students needing to find accommodation in December, “it may simply shift the situation” to March and April, when everyone will once again be looking for accommodation, said Grobbelaar.
Bennie Weitsz, the owner of Rustenbosch Self Catering Guest Apartments in Stellenbosch, said that parents prefer neighbouring areas and insist on getting nearby accommodation to stay in for the few days that graduation takes place.
“Short-term stays are boosted during students’ events, like by February when they move in for graduations,” said Weitsz. “Normally, parents hustle around to get space to sleep over, as most of them are from faraway areas.”
Stellenbosch University and Stellenbosch Municipality, along with law enforcement, traffic services, and tourism operators, collaborate around big events to ensure appropriate planning and support are in place. This is according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality. PHOTO: Uendjizuvira Kandanga