What is a Special Rating Area?
It is a public-private partnership, established by local property owners. It is established in terms of several laws and a municipal by-law of the Municipality of Stellenbosch. Its aim is to supplement and enhance basic services provided by the municipality.

What are the benefits for SRA members?
By pooling their resources in an SRA, individual property owners can enjoy the collective benefits of a well-managed area, a shared sense of communal pride, safety and social responsibility. In the end, these  actions enhance property values.

What is the Jonkershoek Special Rating Area?
It is a defined geographical area within Stellenbosch managed by a registered, non-profit company that provides security, maintenance and beautification services.

Which area does it cover?
The farms in the Jonkershoek Valley, Karindal, Mostertsdrift, Rozendal, Uniepark and Simonswyk.

How did it start?
Homeowners in the area started a voluntary initiative to improve levels of security and maintenance in 2014.

Is it now formal?
Yes. The Jonkershoek SRA was proclaimed by the Municipality of Stellenbosch towards the end of April 2015 in terms of Article 22 of the Municipal Property Rates Act, No 6 of 2004 in conjunction with Stellenbosch Municipality’s Special Ratings Area By-Law and Special Ratings Areas Policy.

Does it have members?
It currently has 482 members.

Is membership compulsory?
No, but it has advantages. Apart from being informed you have the right to vote at the annual general meeting and thus influence the management and who is appointed to the board.

Is it still voluntary or now legally binding?
The Municipality has lawfully proclaimed the Jonkershoek SRA after complying with all the relevant regulatory requirements. It is binding on all property owners living inside the area.

How is it financed?
By homeowners paying a compulsory monthly contribution of R78.18 for each R1 million of their property value.

Can the Municipality spend the money they collect anywhere?
No, all contributions must be used inside the Jonkershoek SRA.

Who receives this money?
It is paid over to a non-profit company to provide the services.

What is the annual budget of the Jonkershoek SRA?
Approximately R1,5 million.

How is this used?
Some 80% is for hard security costs – patrols, surveillance, response, monitoring and the rest for maintenance, beautification and administrative costs.

Does it replace the municipality?
No. It provides additional services to improve and augment those provided by the municipality.

Is it like a homeowners’ association?
Yes, but legally proclaimed by the Stellenbosch Municipality. The Jonkershoek SRA special monthly tariff has also been published and communicated by the municipality as part of its annual budget process.

How is the Jonkershoek SRA managed?
A board of directors was elected at a properly constituted public meeting. The board oversees the work of the Operations Manager, staff and service providers according to a five-year plan approved by the Municipality. Directors serve a three-year term. 

Does Jonkershoek SRA replace private security firms in the area?
No. Its security service covers the area.  It does not respond to individuals’ alarm monitoring and response needs. Homeowners must contract their own security company.

What happened to the Stellenbosch Watch?
The Jonkershoek SRA is replacing the services provided by Stellenbosch Watch.  Members of Stellenbosch Watch living inside the Jonkershoek SRA made their last contribution to Stellenbosch Watch on 1 July 2015.

How does the Board account to the paying homeowners?
The Board must submit reports, results and future budgets at the annual general meeting. In addition, the board reports monthly to the Municipality and communicates to residents through newsletters and messages.

Does the public safety services you provide make any difference to crime in the area?
As of September 2017, crime incidents have declined significantly since the JSRA was started.

How will the SRA communicate with me, as a ratepayer?
The SRA will regularly post updates on its website, facebook and via a WhatsApp group. We also urge all members of the community to sign up to our email communication service.