By Marvin Charles.
Stellenbosch University conceded that there is a need to relook the culture of its residences across the campus.
This after a report into alleged racism at the institution was released this week.
The 184-page report by Sisi Khampepe, a retired Constitutional Court judge, made several findings regarding the culture at residences.
Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor for learning and teaching, said there was a need to relook the culture in its residences.
“The division for student affairs initiated a process last year with regards to the entire student life, especially student life within the residency space. This is part of a series of task teams that was put together to look at all the aspects of student life on our campuses,” he said.
Ramjugernath said new regulations had been formed for residence heads.
“The residence rules have been revised extensively as a result of that. There are regulations that have been developed with regards to the appointment of residence heads and the responsibility of residence heads,” he stressed.
Khampepe said students’ experiences indicated that despite progress and reform being achieved in some residences, a toxic and exclusionary culture still existed in many residences and communities.
“There is a perception among black students that this culture favours Afrikaans preferences and fails to cater to diversity.
“This results in racial segregation in residences. In addition, black students also experience subtle and underhanded racism and exclusionary acts both in community and faculty environments,” the report reads.
Khampepe’s inquiry into racism was established after former student Theuns du Toit was filmed urinating on first-year student Babalo Ndwayana’s desk and belongings at their Huis Marais residence back in May.
Du Toit was later found guilty of contravening the university’s rules and expelled.
The university on Wednesday briefed the media following the release of the report.
Regarding Huis Marais, Khampepe recommended that the residence be converted into a mixed-gender residence.
She also stressed in her report that there was a pervasive drinking culture and alcohol abuse problem at the university, which had exacerbated the problems in residences.
Meanwhile after a marathon, conflict-ridden meeting of eight hours, the University of Cape Town’s council finally approved the appointment of a heavyweight independent panel to investigate allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against its vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, and council chair Babalwa Ngonyama.
The panel is empowered to:
- investigate whether the vice-chancellor (Phakeng) and the chair of council (Ngonyama) misled faculty boards, Senate and/or council regarding former deputy vice-chancellor Lis Lange’s availability for a second term and the reasons she did not pursue it;
- investigate all matters related to executive relationships, including the number of, and reasons for resignations within and beyond the executive, with due consideration of reasons for this; and
- speak to any current or departed staff and/or members of this or previous councils of UCT, whether they have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or not, from which they are considered released insofar as this is legally feasible.
The panel will have full access to university documents, including a list of all senior staff who have departed from UCT since 2018. Phakeng’s critics have accused her of overseeing an exodus of senior leaders from the institution.