Stellenbosch University in South Africa has closed down its Wilgenhof residence due to a hidden initiation custom that contributed to a culture of mistreatment and hazing of freshmen. The university conducted a comprehensive investigation, supported by evidence from auditing the rooms, resulting in a report on the serious circumstances in Wilgenhof. The closure of Wilgenhof highlights the wider issue of hazing and initiation practices that afflict numerous higher learning institutions and emphasizes the need for change.
Stellenbosch University, a prestigious institution in South Africa, is facing controversy surrounding the trial of former student Theuns du Toit, who was caught on film desecrating a black fellow student’s study materials and laptop. The university’s Central Disciplinary Committee found Du Toit guilty of racially biased behavior, but he has since escalated the issue to the Western Cape High Court. The upcoming trial will have widespread implications for the university’s commitment to inclusivity and respect.
In 2023, Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of AgriSciences and the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG), and the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, welcomed 22 female students in Grade 11 from various provinces to participate in the Viticulture and Oenology Winter School Programme.
Following a sixyear legal battle, former SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux has been ordered to repay over R37 million to Stellenbosch University. Roux was found guilty of manipulating the electronic accounting system to transfer millions of unbudgeted university funds to the Maties rugby club during his tenure in the finance department from 2002 to 2010.