The DA Parliamentary Office
Tel: +27 (0) 21 403 2910
Fax: +27 (0) 21 461 0092
Email: info@da.org.za

Postal Address:
The Democratic Alliance
P.O. Box 15
Cape Town
8000

Physical Address:
Marks Building (2nd and 3rd Floor)
Parliament
Plein Street
Cape Town

Good day

we are a German founded company running in Cape Town for almost 15 years now. Please have a look at our website for more information.

OUR PROBLEM
About a year ago we started one of our social involvment projects. African giggles – kindergarten for Africa, based in Stanford, Western Cape. We purchased a building in the middle of town, employed teachers and enrolled children from mostly the nearby township. Children were given montessori education, free meals and care at no or minimal charge (R50/month, if the parents could afford it). At the same time we secured the parents dignity by involving them in daily work, e.g. cleaning, reading stories etc …

Please have a look at what we did up to now here, at our website.

WE HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SOLUTION TO SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY IS FACING.

We are being confronted by two neighbours, complaining about the noise children make. These two neighours run small holiday cottages next to our property and are worried that having a kindergarten next door will decrease the value of their holiday homes. They have lodged formal complaints to the Overstrand municipality and after these were turned down, they appealed against this decision. And now because of this appeal, African giggles – kindergarten for Africa will not be able to operate as planned.

Provincial government is working with this case but it could take up to one year for a decision, so we heard. During this time we are not allowed to run and all children will have to leave our care centre.

Up to now, we did not receive nor claim any funds from government or social services. All running costs and also the legal fees were carried by Cape Studies and its owners, Mr Jens von Wichtingen and Mr Daniel Stemmet. Right now we are standing at R500 000. We were approved by the Overstrand municipality – reasons here. But due to the appeals which we believe are totally unjustified, we are forced to closed down.

Can the Democratic Alliance help us?

We understand the legal process and that it can take longer. But there is a provision within the Stanford Zoning Scheme. If the owner of a building disputes the existence oof the contraventions, council may arrange a special hearing and appoint a advisory committee.

• Demand to close the kindergarten was issued Mr Boshoff, Gansbaai Administration, T: 028-384 8300
• DA respresentative for Stanford, Mr Allan Berry (laywer) is representing the appealants in ongoing legal battle, so there is a conflict of interests.
• More information can be obtained from Ms Ferreira, the assistant area manager in charge of Stanford, T: 028-341 8500
• Our legal representative is Mr Danie Jooste of Jooste and Semer, T.: 028-312 4995 – permission to disclose information is hereby granted (cc to Danie Jooste)

Bottomline:
We invested about R500 000 plus the building´s purchase price of R1.5M to do good to the community of Stanford and especially its children. We now need your help to keep on running.

Kindest regards
Jens von Wichtingen