Stellenbosch University’s council is due to meet on Friday following allegations that its own university rector and vice chancellor, and council chairperson doctored a report regarding SU’s Wilgenhof Residence.
Earlier this week, IOL reported that SU Chancellor Justice Edwin Cameron filed an affidavit as part of ongoing litigation over the Wilgenhof matter, claiming that Professor Wim de Villiers, and Dr Nicky Newton-King, conspired to change the contents of an independent investigation into alleged misdeeds at the residence.
Cameron further alleged that the pair withheld information about the changes from the university’s council when it took a decision on the way forward.
Cameron’s move led to Democratic Alliance to call for de Villiers and Newton-King to be suspended.
The party's DA Willie Aucamp said council supported a recommendation to close the residence, based on the tampered report.
"The final version of the report that was submitted to council, was allegedly edited on the instruction of De Villiers and Newton-King to mislead decision-makers by removing this option to force the closure of the residence," Aucamp said.
SU said the meeting on Friday will be held by council to consider the matter.
It said the University finds these developments around its efforts regarding Wilgenhof residence deeply regrettable, particularly also in view of the settlement arrived at between the University and the Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents (AWIR).
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