Stellenbosch University (SU) may proceed unimpeded with the revision of its Language Policy and the Language Committee of Council may also continue with its activities. This follows after AfriForum Jeug and five other applicants today (19 May 2016) withdrew their application – that SU should stop the revision of its Language Policy – in its entirety shortly before the application was to be heard in Court.

This includes the withdrawal of their application for revision relief (Afrikaans: hersieningsregshulp), as well as their application that Council should set aside the appointment of a committee for matters related to the SU Language Policy and Language Plan.

In accordance with the negotiated order legal costs will be held over for adjudgement at a later stage; and the University will apply the existing language specifications until the current Language Policy and Language Plan have either been amended or replaced.

The unqualified withdrawal of the application follows after the University opposed AfriForum Jeug's urgent application for an interdict to stop the process for the revision of the Language Policy on 8 April 2016. The Court postponed the hearing of the application until 19 May 2016.

Now the extraordinary Council meeting on Saturday 21 May 2016 can focus on pertinent matters of the day.