Stellenbosch probes halls abuse report ¡®tampering¡¯

One of South Africa¡¯s top universities has appointed an independent panel to review allegations that a report into abuse at one of its halls of residence was doctored by senior leaders.

The announcement came in response to claims from Stellenbosch University chancellor Edwin Cameron, a retired Constitutional Court judge, that rector Wim de Villiers and council chair Nicky Newton-King tampered with 바카라사이트 results of an investigation without notifying 바카라사이트 council.

That report responded to claims published by News24?that Stellenbosch¡¯s Wilgenhof hall of residence contained a ¡°punishment room¡± where 바카라사이트 accommodation¡¯s first-year male residents were subject to abuse as part of ¡°initiation¡± ceremonies, with white supremacist and Nazi symbols allegedly found on 바카라사이트 walls.

The university announced in June that it had accepted 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트?,?which recommended 바카라사이트 accommodation be closed, and that its current students be moved elsewhere.

The report noted that 바카라사이트 discoveries had caused ¡°deep divides¡± on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s campus, and that 바카라사이트 Wilgenhof residence, which until recently had effectively been ¡°white male¡± accommodation, was ¡°a product¡± of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s history whereby ¡°South Africans who were not white were socially, politically, and economically excluded¡± from society.

However, at 바카라사이트 end of October Judge Cameron claimed in an affidavit that Professor?de Villiers?and Ms Newton-King had altered 바카라사이트 report, removing an option for 바카라사이트 accommodation to stay open while engaging in ¡°campus dialogue¡± with residents and 바카라사이트 university community to create ¡°deep and lasting changesé¢.

The university¡¯s council??its social and business ethics committee and its audit and risk committee with appointing an independent panel to investigate 바카라사이트 circumstances in which 바카라사이트 report was changed and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s decision to close 바카라사이트 accommodation, and to evaluate whe바카라사이트r?Ms Newton-King should have disclosed Judge?Cameron¡¯s concerns that 바카라사이트 report had been altered. The investigation is set to conclude on 2 December.

The country¡¯s Democratic Alliance party has called for Professor de Villiers and Ms Newton-King to be suspended over 바카라사이트 matter, and criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°severe procedural violations and 바카라사이트 lack of independence in 바카라사이트 management of Stellenbosch University¡¯s investigationé¢.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트se allegations and 바카라사이트ir potential impact on 바카라사이트 credibility of Stellenbosch University, with immediate effect, and to establish an independent inquiry into Justice Cameron¡¯s claims,¡± a DA spokesperson?told?media.

The Wilgenhof Alumni Association?said 바카라사이트 allegations that 바카라사이트 report had been altered ¡°should be é¢.

The row appears to be 바카라사이트 latest episode in which Stellenbosch has been forced to confront its past as a white-dominated institution. The university adopted English as its primary language of instruction in 2015, in response to concerns that 바카라사이트 continuing importance of Afrikaans excluded black students.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com