Puk reverses decision to dismiss SCC member

23 February 2023

AfriForum Youth takes note of the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom campus’s (Puk) letter today to announce that Beàtha Groenewald, who was unfairly removed from her position as secretary of the campus student council, has been re-appointed. The youth organisation accepts that it was their legal action that led to this, but still reserves its right to decide on further action in this regard.

It is significant that the NWU admits its mistake, but AfriForum Youth still expects the university to publicly apologize to Groenewald, as the youth organisation’s lawyer’s letter of 17 February requires. The NWU’s response to the letter leaves much to be desired.

“It is very unfortunate that we had to go so far as to consult with our legal team before the Puk was prepared to admit that they had made a mistake. However, we are still waiting for a public apology and sincerely hope that all structures of the university will learn from this incident not to make themselves guilty of racial exclusion and then try to hide it,” says René van der Vyver, spokesperson for AfriForum Youth.

AfriForum Youth will continue to support Groenewald, regardless of what her decision may be in terms of next steps.

Issued by René van der Vyver, Spokesperson, AfriForum Youth, 23 February 2023