STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

27 October 2024

With reference to recent developments, media reports and allegations around the Wilgenhof matter, Stellenbosch University (SU) will convene an extraordinary meeting of Council on Friday 1 November 2024 to consider the matter.
 
The University finds these developments around its efforts regarding Wilgenhof residence deeply regrettable, particularly also in view of the settlement arrived at between the University and the Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents (AWIR). (Read the previous communication in this regard.)
 
The settlement with the AWIR should be regarded as a positive step in finding resolution and commitment in breaking with unacceptable practices at Wilgenhof and the University’s transformation journey of SU and its residences.
 
The AWIR’s application comprised two parts – first, an urgent interdict to prevent the implementation of the Council decision of 16 September 2024 and second; an application to review and set aside amongst others the Council decision of the 16th. The implications of a successful interdict might have prevented the implementation of the decision of Council – in such event the residence may have thus remained open, the facilitation process towards a reimagined, rejuvenated and renewed student community, and the upgrades to the bathrooms, would have all been stalled until such time as the review of the decision  had been completed. This process could have taken several years as we know, given timelines of procedure, the availability of hearing dates and the various appeal processes to the disposal of the parties to pursue up to the Constitutional Court.  

With the settlement, Council agreed to accommodate Wilgenhof residents by shortening the period of closure to one semester and by allowing those students who wish to do so, to stay in the larger of the two new north Campus residences.

It is important to note that the settlement does not compromise on the crux of the recommendation, i.e. to close the residence in its current form and have a facilitated process towards a reimagined, renewed and rejuvenated student community.
 
Council is legally opposing the Wilgenhof Alumni Association (or Wilgenhof Bond) review application which seeks to set aside the report of the Panel appointed to investigate the content found in two rooms at Wilgenhof. The University trusts that through the Council and legal processes it will remain on course in its endeavours to effect decisive change.

Issued by Stellenbosch University bulletin, 27 October 2024