HETN CONDEMNS THE UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH APPOINTMENT
The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) acting on behalf of its alumni members notes the appointment of Prof Wim de Villiers as the new Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch.
We view the appointment of Prof de Villiers as a setback to the transformation process of higher education at the institution since we believe that Prof de Villiers has failed to bring about any meaningful change at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in his former capacity as Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences.
If anything, there has been nothing short of misery to especially those disadvantaged students who wanted to study medicine at UCT, several of whom were excluded, denied enrolments and victimized under his watch.
We are indeed not surprised at this development given that the Council of the Stellenbosch University was in any case not fully supportive of the late Prof Botman's vision at Stellenbosch University stating and the US Chairperson of Council, Mr George Steyn, stated at the time that
"The continued reporting on issues such as transformation and language can create the impression that these are the main agenda of SU. Council realises that transformation needs to be promoted in such a way that it does not and will not harm excellence". We view the appointment of Prof de Villliers as an affront to the memory of Prof Russel Botman in particular and the transformation of the higher education sector.
We warn the arrogant management and Council of the University of Stellenbosch that the Network will initiate litigation should they continue on this trajectory.
Academic freedom does not include the right to keep the higher educational playing field tilted to perpetuate subordination nor does it represent the right of a privileged elite to act as exclusive gatekeepers of a publicly funded institution.
Statement issued by Mr Lucky Thekisho Chairperson of the Board, Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN), December 12 2014
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