The well-being of the students housed at Stellenbosch University’s soon-to-closed Wilgenhof residence was one of the biggest concerns on the table when the institution’s council ultimately made the call to shut the residence in its current format and replace it with a “reimagined and rejuvenated” male residence.
The decision, announced on Monday, came after a report recommending the residence be permanently closed over initiation-like allegations in light of two secret rooms that were found at Wilgenhof with “disturbing items” during an audit of its spaces and amenities.
In June, Council, the highest decision-making body at the university, opened a public participation process inviting interested parties to submit written representations on the closure or non-closure of Wilgenhof for consideration.
This process then led to the decision to close the residence for upgrading in 2025. It will reopen in 2026 as a male residence.
“All current Wilgenhof residents who fulfil the academic requirements for replacement in a residence and wish to stay in SU residences will be placed in other university residences for 2025.
During 2025, current Wilgenhof residents will be given the opportunity to apply for placement in 2026 as per the SU residence placement policy.
“A facilitated and student-driven process will be launched, including SU management, a number of elected and other Wilgenhof residents, as well as other male and female student leaders and residence heads, to shape the new reimagined and rejuvenated residence.
This will encompass its values, constitution, disciplinary code, acceptable practices, and a definitive and deliberate end to unacceptable practices such as the Vleisfees, Nagligte, and other such customs,” said Stellenbosch University.
The Council said it is clear from the submissions that there were elements of the Wilgenhof culture that were intended to promote wholesome outcomes like independent thinking and camaraderie and which SU should seek to preserve.
“At the same time, the Council is clear that there is no space in a modern values-based university for unacceptable and secretive practices (whether disciplinary or otherwise) that are not aligned with SU’s values, Vision 2040, the spirit of its Restitution Statement, and the South African Constitution.
These cannot be tolerated or accepted as unique traditions or Wilgenhof’s specific form of community building.”
Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council president Phiwokuhle Qabaka welcomed the decision.
“Myself and one other SRC member were part of that meeting. It was not an easy decision, the deliberations were intense but constructive. Whether it will fix the problem or not we will never know until we try.
“Because looking at what Student Affairs has tried to do with the residence to assist it move forward it has not worked. It wasn’t an easy decision but it’s one that is necessary. I can guarantee you that one of the biggest concerns that was on the table was the well-being of the students that reside there. It's important that we remember wherever the students are placed in the university they still belong to our community. They are still Maties. We note that unpopular decisions have to be taken for the betterment of our university but we hope that our students will see this as a learning curve and we would not want to see our students divided over this but rather let’s come together and find a way forward.”
The Wilgenhof Alumni Association and a newly formed Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents said they would approach the courts in an attempt to interdict Stellenbosch University from closing the residence for a year.
“The decision is unacceptable. One year’s closure of the residence will break up the Wilgenhof community. The alumni are also deeply concerned by the proposal of a possible name change for the residence.
“A full change of name would be an assault on Stellenbosch’s heritage and the valuable contributions Wilgenhof and its former residents have made to the university and the country,” Wilgenhof Alumni Association spokesperson, Jaco Rabie said.
On behalf of the Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents, Noelani King Conradie said the urgent court action would aim to counter the direct harm closure would cause the current residents.
Human rights activist and policy analyst Nkosikhulule Nyembezi described the decision as breaking away from the “routine”.
“It is the kind of decision that makes you do a double-take because it is progressive and tough given that the conversation on how to confront racism at the university has for many months seemed to be stuck in an endless loop.
“Used correctly, the transformation process should produce tangible and measurable outcomes to be celebrated by all.
It should reach for something meaningful about changing how a cohort of powerful whites have conducted themselves in the institution and the society. It should ensure a total eradication of structural racism, clear in the workings of a dominant culture in the university culture that persists and non-structural racism that seems only to be taken seriously when it spills out onto the streets,” Nyembezi said.
Cape Times