The Stellenbosch University (SU) Council has a new deputy chairperson with the election of Mr Ainsley Moos to this position at its second ordinary meeting for the year, held on Monday (18 June 2018). He succeeds Prof PW van der Walt whose term expired earlier this year.

Moos, a SU alumnus, is a member of the executive team of the financial services company, African Rainbow Capital. He is a member of Council since 2014.

Mr George Steyn, a director of companies, was re-elected chairperson, having been a member of Council since 2010 (elected by donors), and chair since 2012.

Prof Joan Hambidge and Mr Johan Theron (both elected by Convocation), and Ms Khungeka Njobe (elected by Council, like Mr Moos) were also re-appointed to Council. Prof Amanda Gouws and Prof Usuf Chikte (both elected by Senate) were reappointed at the previous meeting of Council, on 26 March 2018.

Hambidge is a Professor of Afrikaans and Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town, Theron an attorney practising as commercial litigant and Njobe a founder of the investment holding business, the Kay Ann Group, and director and member of various companies and boards. Gouws is a distinguished professor in Political Sciences and Chikte Head of the Department of Global Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – both at SU.

New members

Council also welcomed a number of new members – Mr Hubert Brody (elected by donors), Mr Charl Cillié and Adv Jean Meiring (both elected by Convocation), and Mr Wayde Davidse (elected by permanent non-academic staff members).

Brody is a director of companies, Cillié a digital project manager, Meiring an advocate of the Johannesburg Bar and Davidse a senior buyer in the University's purchasing and provisioning division.

At its previous meeting, Council welcomed Mr Lwando Nkamisa, Chair of the Student Representative Council, and Mr Euwen Etson, chair of the Academic Affairs Council, as representatives of the student body.

The SU Council has an oversight responsibility for academic and operational affairs, as well as institutional policy and strategy at the institution. The Council governs, among others, the assets of the University, determines the conditions of service of staff and top management, and sets the institution's admission and language policies.