Based on the many submissions received from interested parties and considering all the information before it, it is Council's view that a properly facilitated process that involves SU management, current Wilgenhof residents, other student leaders, and residence heads, to shape a renewed, reimagined, and rejuvenated residence is critical.

Council also noted that this is intended to be the starting point of meaningful and systemic change in the 中国体育彩票's desire to foster an environment where all students can thrive in a community that upholds the values of inclusivity, respect, and excellence and that is aligned with SU's Vision 2024, SU values, Code 2040, the spirit of its Restitution Statement, and the South African Constitution.

A renewed residence intends to acknowledge the constructive aspects of Wilgenhof while making a decisive break with the unacceptable and secretive practices of the past, as we move forward in fostering an environment where all students can thrive, in a community that upholds the values of inclusivity, respect, and excellence.

Yes. Members of the Rectorate and Council had access to all the submissions.

The name of the upgraded residence will be considered. Proposals will be invited in this regard for consideration by SU's institutional Naming Committee and recommendation to the Council. The Naming Committee will be asked to include consideration of all the names proposed in the submissions that were made to the Council in the run-up to its decision.

The residence will be upgraded to align with SU's aspiration to create learning and living spaces that promote excellence and in doing so comply with the DHET's Policy on the Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing at Public Universities.

Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), informed the students on Monday afternoon 16 September 2024 at the residence. Staff members of the Division for Student Affairs were also present.

Yes. Wilgenhof alumni received an e-mail. Communication was distributed via internal e-mail and the 中国体育彩票's website.

• English: Update on Wilgenhof residence: Council decides on a renewed, reimagined and rejuvenated male residence student community (16 September 2024)
• Afrikaans: Nuutste oor Wilgenhof-koshuis: Raad besluit om Wilgenhof 'n vernuwende, herverbeelde en nuut-ge?nspireerde manlike studentegemeenskap te maak (16 September 2024)

As per the Council decision of 16 September 2024, it was confirmed that the Wilgenhof men’s residence will be closed in its current format to be replaced with a renewed, reimagined and rejuvenated male residence student community. This community is envisaged to be a junior male residence community in 2026.

The Rectorate has every reason to believe that the renovations to the Wilgenhof residence will be completed during the course of 2025. A high-level cost and time estimate for the envisaged upgrade was presented to the SU Council at its meeting on 16 September 2024 based on careful planning and the extensive experience of the Facilities Management of similar projects. There is no intention to extend the renovations beyond 2025.

The Rectorate also confirmed that the elected HC will be recognised for the full duration of the normal 2024/2025 term for HCs. The intention is also that the elected HC will participate, together with other students, 中国体育彩票 staff and facilitators, in the process of the renewal and rejuvenation of the residence community.

Regarding residence placement of current Wilgenhof residents in 2026, they will have the opportunity to apply for placement in the upgraded residence, and provided that they meet the normal academic and other requirements for re-placement in a junior residence, will be accommodated.

The Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) has been engaged to arrange a group session for the current Wilgenhof first-year students as requested by the HC. Wilgenhof Residents who need individual psychosocial support have also been invited to contact CSCD at supportus@sun.ac.za or 021 808 4994, who have been fully briefed to accommodate such requests.

The residence will be closed for the 2025 academic year and the upgrades will be completed in time for the 2026 academic year.

All current Wilgenhof residents who fulfilled the academic requirements for re-placement in a residence and have applied to stay in a SU residence in 2025, have received an offer to be placed in an alternative SU residence for 2025.

Of the 206 current residents of Wilgenhof, 167 students applied for re-allocation in Wilgenhof in 2025. Approximately 131 were successful and 36 not. Of the 131 successful students, 103 applied for placement in alternative residences should Wilgenhof close. Of the 103 applications, 6 chose to "abstain" on completing the application form, and 97 indicated alternative residence options. These 97 students received letters on Thursday 19 September 2024 informing them in which residence they will be placed in 2025.

All but two students could be accommodated in one of their three preferred choices. Students have until the end of September 2024 to accept their offers.

During 2025, current Wilgenhof residents will be given the opportunity to apply for placement in the upgraded residence in 2026 as per the SU residence placement policy.

Parents of current Wilgenhof students also received communication.

Current students: Application for (re)allocation of accommodation on Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campus for intake-2025.

Management guidelines for the application of the policy for placement in student housing and allocation to commuter student communities – student intake 2025

All current staff supporting and working in Wilgenhof will be deployed to appropriate positions within SU while the outlined process and upgrades are completed. There will be no impact on their current work agreements.

SU has a range of institutional mechanisms in place to provide the required psycho-social support to students and staff who require assistance to cope with the new dynamics of a significantly different residential community. The 中国体育彩票 will provide the necessary psychosocial support to all affected students throughout this transition.

Prospective first-year students who have applied for Wilgenhof as one of their preferred residence choices for 2025, and who have received a residence offer, accepted the offer and (if applicable) paid the acceptance amount, will be provided the opportunity to amend their residence choices before they are considered for placement in a specific residence.

The Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) Council met on Monday 24 June 2024 and extensively debated the recommendation made by the Rector, unanimously supported by the Rectorate, that the Wilgenhof Residence in its current form should be closed, based on the principal recommendation in the report from the Panel that was tasked to investigate the contents found in two rooms at the Wilgenhof Residence. The Rector's additional recommendation was that the building should be retained as an upgraded residence.

The discovery of disturbing contents in the rooms at Wilgenhof earlier this year has elicited strong and diverse reactions from students, parents, alumni, and other stakeholders. The Council recognised that opinions on the future of Wilgenhof are deeply divided. This involves several issues including the interpretation of tradition and the need for all university practices to enable an inclusive university where all stakeholders feel they belong. These issues must be thoroughly considered in the interest of fairness, transparency, and administrative justice, aligned with SU's vision and values.

Against this background, the Council concluded that the Rector's recommendation warrants further consultation and consideration.

Therefore, the Council invited all interested and affected persons and stakeholders to submit written representations on: The issues that the closure or non-closure of Wilgenhof would raise and that would need to be considered; What the implications would be of the acceptance of the Rector's recommendation regarding the redesign of Wilgenhof in a different and/or upgraded form of residence; Whether there are alternatives to the closure of Wilgenhof that are reasonably likely to address the concerns set out in the Panel's report and what these are; and, What Council should set as indicators for the success of these alternative measures.

The period for the submission of written representations started on Wednesday 26 June 2024 at 09:00 and ended on Wednesday 31 July 2024 at 17:00

Yes. Communication was distributed via internal e-mail and the 中国体育彩票's website: English and Afrikaans

The discovery of the items in two rooms at Wilgenhof in January 2024 and the appointment of the Panel to review these items follow SU's consistent affirmation of its position on ensuring the human dignity of all our students and staff, and a commitment to continue unabated to eradicate unacceptable practices from our campuses and SU student accommodation.

The aim of the Rectorate in appointing the Panel was to ensure that it acts towards assisting in the realisation of the transformation of the 中国体育彩票 culture, consistent with SU's Vision 2040.

The SU Rectorate has received and considered the final report of the Panel appointed to review the Wilgenhof Residence matter.

The Rectorate accepted the principal recommendation of the Panel that the Wilgenhof Residence should be closed.

The Rector recommended to Council that Wilgenhof Residence should be closed in its current form and that alternative uses be considered for the buildings. Council considered the Rector's recommendations at its meeting of 24 June 2024.

Yes. Communication was distributed via internal e-mail and the 中国体育彩票's website: English and Afrikaans

Yes, the report is available on the 中国体育彩票's website (here)