Statement - Appointment of independent panel to investigate issues pertaining to "Wilgenhof Report"
8 November 2024
The members of Stellenbosch University's Audit & Risk Committee and Social & Business Ethics Committee (the "Joint Committee") were mandated by the SU Council, at its meeting on 1 November 2024, to arrange and coordinate an independent investigation into specific allegations of impropriety made by the Chancellor, Judge Edwin Cameron, against the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, and Chair of Council, Dr Nicky Newton-King, and contained in an affidavit deposed by the Chancellor on 29 October 2024; relating to the so-called “Wilgenhof Report".
The Joint Committee today appointed an Independent Panel consisting of Judge Johann Kriegler, Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC, and Professor Themba Mosia, (“the Kriegler Panel") to conduct this investigation. Judge Kriegler will chair the Independent Panel. Brief resumés of the Kriegler Panel members are provided below.
The Panel's report and findings are expected to be received in time for the next meeting of Council scheduled for 2 December 2024.
The Joint Committee is thankful to the Kriegler Panel members for availing themselves for this sensitive but very important task and believe that they will conduct a thorough and fair investigation.
Resumés of Panel Members
Judge Johann Kriegler
Judge Kriegler is a retired South African judge who served in the Constitutional Court of South Africa from February 1995 to November 2002. Formerly a practising silk in Johannesburg, he joined the bench as a judge of the Transvaal Provincial Division in 1984. He was among the 11 judges sworn into the apex court's inaugural bench on 14 February 1995, and he served there until he retired from the judiciary on 29 November 2002.
He was also the first chairperson of the post-apartheid Independent Electoral Commission and Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Professor Themba Mosia
Prof Mosia is the Vice-Principal and immediate past Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria.
He holds a PhD in Policy Studies, particularly in Governance. He earned his university qualifications both in South Africa and the United States. Prof Mosia has served the academic enterprise in numerous other capacities, over more than four decades, including teaching/lecturing, international relations, as head of department, Registrar at various universities, Dean, General Manager of the Health Professions Council of South Africa and Interim Chair of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). He has, and continues to present workshops for university Councils having collaborated with the DHET in the past for Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Council. He is among five authors of the “Guidelines for Good Governance Practice and Governance Indicators for Councils of South African Public Higher Education Institutions." His academic expertise is in quality assurance, governance and health sciences education. He was appointed as an Expert Advisor to the Commission of Inquiry into the Feasibility of Fee-Free Higher Education in South Africa. He served as the Chairperson of the Council on Higher Education for two terms, and numerous international networks.
In 2022/2023 he led a team to conduct an independent assessment of the affairs of UNISA with a view to advising the Minister on the source and nature of problems, and measures required to restore good governance and management.
Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC
Advocate Pillay SC practised as an advocate at the Cape Bar for some 19 years, before being conferred the honour of silk status in 2018. She undertakes work in a wide range of areas and has a particular interest in constitutional law. She has written on the subjects of socioeconomic rights, poverty and the role and responsibilities of various organs of state. She also co-edited a book, titled Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa.
Adv Pillay SC has served on the Boards of several non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations. She has served as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Council, as vice-chairperson of the Cape Bar Council, and as a member of the Board of the Dullah Omar Institute.
She holds the following degrees: BA (Law) (UDW) LLB (UCT) LLM (UCT).
Statement issued by Stellenbosch University on behalf of Bernard Fick, Chair of the Joint Committee, Friday, 8 November 2024
