😬 Trying To Get Into A Stellenbosch School Right Now...

Every year around Stellenbosch, thousands of parents quietly go through the same stressful process:

School applications.

And honestly?
It has become almost impossible not to feel anxious about it.

Because whether it’s:
• Paul Roos
• Bloemhof
• Rhenish
• Stellenbosch Primary
• or some of the surrounding schools…

the demand is absolutely through the roof.

Families move here specifically for the schools.
People buy houses in certain areas hoping it improves their chances.
Some parents start planning applications years in advance.

And still…

many really good kids simply don’t get placed.

That’s the difficult part nobody talks about enough.

Not getting a spot does not mean:
• you failed as a parent
• your child isn’t good enough
• or their future is somehow ruined.

It’s often just a numbers game now.

There are simply far more families wanting access to Stellenbosch schools than there are available spaces.

Which says something quite remarkable about Stellenbosch itself.

People want to raise families here.
People believe in these schools.
People want their children growing up in this community.

But it also means many parents are sitting with huge uncertainty this time of year.
Refreshing emails.
Waiting for calls.
Trying not to panic.
Trying to stay positive for their kids while internally feeling stressed themselves.

If you’re currently going through it:
you’re definitely not alone.

And regardless of where your child ends up…
what will matter most in the long run is:
supportive parents,
good values,
encouragement,
and a stable home.

Not only the badge on a blazer.

Can we all just agree that the droëwors from Joeys in Die Boord is dangerously good?

Not “ja it’s nice” good.

Proper:
“buy one packet and accidentally finish it before you get home” good.

You tell yourself:
“This is for the weekend.”

Then somehow the packet is empty before you’ve even unpacked the Woolworths bags.

No one really eats Joey’s droëwors slowly either.

There’s no restraint.
No discipline.
No dignity.

Just standing in the kitchen eating “one more piece” another 14 times.

Honestly, Stellenbosch has many great food spots…
but Joey’s droëwors might quietly be one of the strongest addictions in town.

Which means dads across South Africa are about to enter their annual cycle of pretending:
“No no, I don’t need anything.”

Meanwhile internally they are hoping for:
• a new drill
• biltong
• six uninterrupted minutes alone in the garage
• and maybe one family lunch where nobody cries, spills juice, or needs the WiFi password.

Also worth noting:
dads will receive a gift and immediately respond with:
“Ag shame, you shouldn’t have…”

before spending the next 4 hours showing every single visitor.

“Look what the kids got me.”

Fatherhood is also the only job where a man can:
• fall asleep during a movie by 7:42pm
• make strange noises every time they stand up
• refuse to ask for directions
• and somehow still believe they could’ve gone pro if the knee injury never happened.

So yes…
this is your reminder.

Father’s Day is coming.

And if you panic-buy garage socks from Woolworths at 8pm the night before, just know:
you are part of a very large support group.

The Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch (AWSS) is celebrating 70 years of caring for vulnerable animals with a special fundraising gala and auction on Friday, 24 July 2026 at Landtscap in Devon Vale.

The evening will raise funds for AWSS’s “Kennel Improvements for a Better Tomorrow” project, helping improve shelter conditions and weather protection for dogs in their care.

Guests can expect:
• a drinks reception
• a three-course dinner with wine
• live and silent auctions
• and a beautiful evening overlooking the Stellenbosch Winelands.

Tables of 10 are available at R8,500 or individual tickets at R850 per person.

📍 Landtscap, Devon Vale
📅 Friday, 24 July 2026
📧 [email protected]

Two Springbok rugby players were spotted at Gino’s in Stellenbosch this week.

Or at least we think they were rugby players.

There’s always a small chance they were actually two industrial fridges wearing hoodies.

There are people who move through life as if every small inconvenience is a personal attack.

Too cold.
Too hot.
Too busy.
Too tired.
Traffic.
Emails.
Mondays.
Loadshedding.
Queues.
Rain.
Sun.
People walking too slowly in Woolworths.

And slowly, without realising it, they spend most of their lives complaining instead of actually living.

Because somewhere along the way many people start treating life itself like a burden instead of a gift.

But the truth is:
you woke up today.

Your heart is beating.
Your lungs are working.
You can still change things.
Still laugh.
Still try again.
Still build something.
Still love people.
Still experience life.

That already places you in an unbelievably fortunate position.

Not everything needs to become a problem.

Sometimes life becomes lighter when you simply decide:
“I’m going to enjoy being alive.”

Not because everything is perfect.

But because you are here.
And that alone is extraordinary.

🌥️ Friday
19°C / 13°C
A cool Stellenbosch morning with a mix of sun and clouds. One of those “should I wear a jersey or not?” kind of days. You’ll probably carry it around by lunchtime anyway.

☀️ Saturday
20°C / 10°C
Clearer skies and a proper Winelands winter morning. Cold enough to make getting out of bed feel like a personal attack. Beautiful afternoon incoming.

😎 Sunday
22°C / 10°C
Sunny and lekker. Ideal weather for wine farms, markets, mountain bikes, long lunches, or pretending you’re “just going for one coffee” in town.

Overall: a surprisingly good Stellenbosch winter weekend ahead.

As always, thanks for reading. If you spot something in town worth knowing, reply and tell us. Half the best Stellenbosch stories begin that way.

See you around town,
Stellenbosch Brief

If you know someone in Stellenbosch who would appreciate this, feel free to forward it to them. The right readers tend to find each other.