​Statement by the Dean’s Management Team, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University
Wednesday 21 September 2016


Dear Colleagues and Students


The Dean’s Management Team (DMT) of our Faculty has been involved in conversations, as well as received feedback and input, from a range of stakeholders over the last two days. We would like to express our gratitude to all the students and staff for the patience and wisdom displayed.

We would like to engage with all our staff and students about the way ahead, and hear your views. 

We invite you to a meeting with all students to be held in the Tygerberg Student Centre.
Date: Thursday 22 September 2016
Time: 08:30
Venue: Tygerberg Student Centre, Sports Hall

In order to facilitate attendance of this meeting, all undergraduate academic activities for Thursday 22 September are postponed. The rest of the activities of the Faculty will continue.

I would like to reiterate that our point of departure remains that we support the call for equitable access to higher education, while at the same time ensuring that every student of the Faculty is assisted to complete their academic year successfully at the end of 2016. As staff and students who function in a healthcare environment, we promote optimal patient care and professionalism on a daily basis. 

Service delivery on the clinical platform cannot be compromised and we all have a collective responsibility to ensure that this is achieved. We believe the academic endeavour of the Faculty in terms of learning and teaching, research and clinical service must be protected by all parties.

We respect the right of our students to protest peacefully and we will continue to take steps to ensure that students are able to exercise this right without any fear of victimisation.

With rights come responsibilities, and the right to protest must at all times be exercised in a way that does not cause harm or damage or in any way infringes on the rights of others.

Thank you for your understanding, commitment and compassion.


Kind regards


Prof Julia Blitz
Acting Dean