Stellenbosch University (SU) students and staff who have been allocated paid parking behind the SU Museum and in Ryneveld Street, are unable to park in their allocated bays for the duration of the arts festival, Toyota SU Woordfees.
The festival runs from 6 March to 15 March.
To minimise morning and afternoon traffic, Ryneveld Street will close from 9:00 to 16:45 daily, for the duration of Woordfees. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
While parking remains limited to the SU students and staff, alternative measures have been made for Woordfees attendees.
The Woordfees parking plan and shuttle service route. PHOTO: Toyota SU Woordfees
“The parking area behind the University Museum will be affected by Woordfees. Students and staff allocated to this area will have the option of parking on peripheral areas, Coetzenburg & Lentelus, which include the use of the SU shuttle Service to move to and from central campus,” said Roelof Loubster, mobility manager of Transport Services at SU.
This year, Woordfees is expected to attract around 80 000 people to Stellenbosch, according to Danie Marais, publicity and film festival coordinator.
“The Toyota SU Woordfees has grown into one of the country’s biggest arts festivals. In 2019, the festival attracted some 70 000 visitors. In 2020, the festival turns 21. This coming of age is being celebrated over 10 days with more than 500 productions in 16 categories across 75 venues in Stellenbosch,” Marais said.
According to Stuart Grobbelaar, Stellenbosch municipality’s communications manager, the municipality will provide support in terms of traffic services and law enforcement officers who will regulate traffic and parking in the town.
SU students and staff, who have allocated parking space on Ryneveld Street and behind the SU Museum, will not be able to park in their bays during Woordfees. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“Stellenbosch is indeed an old town with narrow streets and very limited parking. That is why we have an extensive park-and-ride shuttle service with vehicles sponsored by Toyota. We advise all festival-goers to make use of this shuttle service. Free and safe parking is available at Stellenbosch High School in Jannasch Street, at the Van der Stel Sports Groundsin Merriman Avenue, and opposite Rhenish Girls’ High School in Koch Street,” said Marais.
To allow the morning and afternoon traffic to pass through, Ryneveld Street will be closed from 9:00 – 16:45 daily, said Dirkie van der Merwe, logistics manager of Woordfees.