FF Plus requests Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to investigate irregularities and conflict at SU and Prof Wim de Villiers' role in it

29 October 2024

The scandals and conflict at Stellenbosch University (SU), revolving around the Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers, should not be tolerated at one of the country's most prominent institutions for higher education.

Therefore, the FF Plus requested the chairperson of the parliamentary Committee on Higher Education, Mr Tebogo Walter Letsie, to order a formal parliamentary inquiry into the University.

In the most recent incident, Prof De Villiers allegedly manipulated a report on the men's residence Wilgenhof, according to former Judge Edwin Cameron.

The fact that such prominent figures are embroiled in the matter makes it all the more urgent and warrants an investigation on parliamentary level.

The incident of nepotism in which Prof De Villiers was absolved of accountability on a technical point (nepotism only applies to the appointment of staff and not to students' selection applications) is still fresh in the memory. The FF Plus does not agree with this ruling.

The party’s request to Mr Letsie states, among other things:

An investigation should be conducted into events at SU where an internal matter concerning transformation at a university residence resulted in alleged dishonesty at the level of the institution's Council and its most prominent office-bearers.

The matter stems from so-called revelations about untransformed practices in the Wilgenhof men's residence. Seeing as an internal investigation was already underway, outside intervention did not seem advisable.

Ultimately, the report contained only one recommendation, namely, that the residence should be closed.

It came to light that the original report contained alternative possibilities but, apparently, the Vice-Chancellor and the University Council's chairperson unilaterally altered the report.

The Chancellor (Judge Cameron) revealed these alleged irregularities in an affidavit.

This is a significant matter seeing as the transformation of higher education and its management, in a way that could discredit the entire process, are at stake.

In the FF Plus's view, it is imperative to investigate the matter on a higher level seeing as there have been several incidents pointing to possible dishonesty, meaning that the SU cannot be trusted to take action itself.

Issued by Wynand Boshoff, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson: Highter Education, 29 October 2024