3-person committee to probe vice-chancellor nepotism claims

News24 20 April 2023

After a marathon eight-hour meeting on Monday 17 April, the council of Stellenbosch University in South Africa decided to appoint a committee of three to probe allegations of nepotism against Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers, writes Marvin Charles for News24.

Acting Council Chairperson Dr Nicky Newton-King confirmed that a motion in terms of the university’s statute to dismiss De Villiers was tabled during the council meeting on Monday. The motion was placed on the agenda by the DA’s Stellenbosch constituency head and council member Leon Schreiber and seconded by Jan Heunis, the president of the university’s convocation.

The council agreed the matter should first be referred to a council committee of three people, of which one would be an independent legal professional. The committee would investigate the facts underlying the motion, including allegations of nepotism and a possible breach of related rules in relation to De Villiers’ discretionary placement of family members at the university.
Full report on the News24 site

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