Mr George Steyn, Chair of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Council, announced tonight (Thursday, 31 October 2019), that the Executive Committee of Council (EC(C)) has adopted a resolution to appoint a retired judge to conduct an independent investigation following a complaint against SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers.

This comes after the Constitutional Court, on 10 October, unanimously found in favour of Stellenbosch University, who opposed an application by Gelyke Kanse to compel the institution to return to its 2014 Language Policy.

In a letter to the institution on 24 October, Dr Leon Schreiber, an alumnus of Stellenbosch University, requested Council, via the Registrar, to launch an investigation based on allegations that Prof De Villiers had attempted to interfere in the court case by trying to convince Judge Edwin Cameron to accept the office of Chancellor.

In terms of good governance and transparency, the EC(C) decided to launch an investigation and to appoint retired Judge Burton Fourie to conduct the investigation. Before his retirement in 2017, he was a long-standing and respected member of the Western Cape High Court and acting member of the Supreme Court of Appeal. It is envisaged that a written report with the findings of the investigation will be tabled and considered at the next scheduled Council meeting on 2 December 2019.

In response to the decision, Prof De Villiers said: “I welcome the investigation announced by the Executive Committee of Council.

“I reaffirm what I said to the media last week. I did not interfere with the legal process. I am satisfied that I acted in good faith, and that the nomination and election followed due process.”

The University will communicate further on this matter when the SU Council has considered the recommendations that will follow the investigation.