Stellenbosch University reached an agreement with service workers and students at the end of 2015, and is working systematically to implement the commitments made in terms of the agreement.

Underpinning this agreement is the University's insistence on human dignity. In this regard Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor says: ''The fundamental issue to us is one of human dignity. We regard this as non-negotiable and we also expect our external service providers to adhere to this value. We do not wish to be associated with or enter into agreements with any external service provider that does not have regard for the human dignity and well-being of its workers." In this regard the University is also supporting its various current external service providers to, where necessary ensure that all their workers rendering services on Stellenbosch campuses are treated in a humane manner.

As part of the agreement, Stellenbosch University has:

• placed an immediate moratorium on all new forms of outsourcing;
• made a once-off payment of R2 000 to all the workers of external service providers designated to SU campuses and who were affected by the protest action. This process was completed at the end of December 2015;
• pledged a subsidy of the cost to company of the ring-fenced external workers on our campuses who currently earn (cost to company) less than R5 000 per month, as from March 2016. The subsidy will ensure parity with the salary of R5 000 per month at the minimum entry level cost to company of a University employee. This process is currently underway;
• established an independent helpline where these workers can lodge any complaints, which SU will then take up directly with their respective employers;
• appointed an external facilitator to assist the Wellness Office to conduct interviews with former University employees who were outsourced since 1994 and who are currently employed by external service providers to the University. The objective is to give workers the opportunity to share the impact that outsourcing has had on their lives and how they were potentially disadvantaged as a result. These interviews will form the basis of a proposal on suitable and affordable restitution to be submitted to the Rector's Management team for consideration. The due date for the completion of this investigation is the end of February 2016;
• introduced a process of the evaluation of 'viable sourcing', that will be followed to determine the best course of action when the contract terms of current external service providers come to an end – at that point all the viable options will be considered in taking final decisions on how the service in question will in future be provided to the University;
• last year, in terms of the agreement, initiated discussions with the management of current external service providers.
  
  

Prof De Villiers has also made a formal appeal for leniency to external service providers who have instituted disciplinary action against workers who participated in the protest action. Although Stellenbosch University cannot get involved in external service providers' internal disciplinary processes, it acts in support of workers to outline the context of the protest actions and ask for leniency. "We are concerned about the hardships of the dismissed workers and we are doing all within our power to bring their cases, some on appeal and others at the CCMA, to a speedy conclusion." In this regard the University also plays an active role to explore alternative avenues, such as mediation, between the workers and their respective employers - with the aim to, as far as possible, facilitate an amicable outcome between the two parties.

​The task team appointed to ensure that the agreement will be fully implemented will meet again on 8 February 2016.

Apart from the work of the task team, Prof de Villiers also announced the following:

• An independent study into the moral, social and financial as well as non-financial aspects of sourcing. The findings will inform the further decisions of the Rector's Management Team and will be conducted as a matter of urgency – also taking into account the need for a sectorial higher education approach to this complex issue;

 A colloquium for staff and students where they can debate the various issues pertaining to sourcing. The colloquium will provide a platform for different points of view, and due consideration will be given to moral and socio-economic imperatives. The viewpoints formulated during the colloquium will also be communicated to the Rector's Management Team.