Retired Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron has revealed that Stellenbosch University’s leadership may have altered a report that recommended closing the university’s historic Wilgenhof men’s residence due to alleged abusive practices.
Story Summary:
- Justice Edwin Cameron has alleged under oath that Stellenbosch University officials altered the Wilgenhof report, removing a section that suggested keeping the residence open.
- The Wilgenhof Alumni Association is calling for transparency, taking legal steps to challenge the decision.
- The university plans an emergency council meeting in response to the accusations.
What Judge Cameron exposed about Wilgenhof
The historic male-only residence has been at the centre of controversy due to alleged dehumanising initiation practices associated with “Nagligte,” a shadow committee within the residence.
The 121-year-old Wilgenhof residence’s closure was formally recommended in June 2024 after an internal panel’s investigation exposed problematic practices linked to the Nagligte institution, known for initiation activities alleged to uphold exclusionary and harmful traditions.
In the affidavit, Cameron alleges that Stellenbosch University Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers and Council Chair Dr Nicky Newton-King altered the panel’s report, which originally suggested dialogue as an alternative to closing Wilgenhof.
This dialogue proposal, Cameron asserts, was deliberately omitted from the final version.
Alleged tampering and secret amendments
According to Cameron, the version of the report he first received on 1 June 2024, included the option of a campus-wide dialogue to address Wilgenhof’s issues without shutting it down.
This “deep, carefully managed and facilitated dialogue,” Cameron says, appealed to the panel as a viable approach.
However, the published report—now dated 10 June —excluded this recommendation, stating only that the alternatives were rejected due to a lack of viability.
The changes, Cameron notes, were made following De Villiers’ intervention.
In a recorded message to Cameron on 12 June, De Villiers acknowledged that an altered report would be publicly released, a move Cameron later questioned.
“Help me understand what happened between [1 June 1] and this afternoon,” Cameron wrote to De Villiers after noticing the modifications.
University leadership faces backlash
Amid Cameron’s claims, the Wilgenhof Alumni Association is now contesting the residence’s closure in court, arguing that the report’s alterations suggest a breach of trust and transparency.
The university has announced an extraordinary meeting of its council on 1 November 2024 to address these allegations.
Stellenbosch University also indicated that the Council, having only recently been informed of the report’s edits, is committed to a fair legal process regarding Wilgenhof’s closure.
Democratic Alliance leaders have since called for the suspension of De Villiers and Newton-King, citing Cameron’s allegations as a “grave compromise of university governance.”
Party spokesperson Willie Aucamp emphasised that these accusations have significant implications for Stellenbosch’s credibility, urging for an independent investigation into the matter.
Continued fallout from Wilgenhof culture investigation
The Wilgenhof scandal follows a series of concerning discoveries about the residence, including reports of hazing practices under the Nagligte, where students described ritualistic behaviour and symbols reminiscent of racist iconography.
The panel’s initial investigation painted a bleak picture of Wilgenhof’s culture, asserting that Nagligte’s “white supremacist” overtones directly conflicted with the university’s transformation goals.
It urged immediate closure of the residence as a demonstration of Stellenbosch’s commitment to inclusivity and reform.
Yet Cameron’s affidavit suggests that, while the university acknowledged these recommendations, its leadership bypassed suggestions for a process-oriented approach to tackling deep-seated issues at Wilgenhof.
In response to the unfolding controversy, the Wilgenhof Alumni Association has publicly criticised Stellenbosch’s leadership, with spokesperson Jaco Rabie denouncing the closed-door decisions.
“What should have been a fair and transparent process turned out to be the opposite,” Rabie stated, calling the altered report a “poisoned chalice” that unfairly maligned Wilgenhof’s current residents and alumni.
