Following serious concerns raised about an article published by researchers from the Department of Sport Science, that has since January 2019 been part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, we wish to re-emphasise our ongoing commitment to transformation at all levels.
The article entitled Age- and education-related effects on cognitive functioning in Coloured South African women, recently appeared in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. It has been widely criticised, inter alia, for perpetuating racial stereotypes, using questionable scientific methods, and for drawing unwarranted conclusions. My management team and I have noted these criticisms with great concern.
The history of our country is complex and layered and we recognise that past injustices continue to perpetuate inequities today. We acknowledge the deep hurt, anger and frustration that this publication and the research underpinning it has caused, and that it has been perceived as racist, insulting and offensive. As a faculty we strongly condemn any form of discrimination, including racial stereotyping.
We, furthermore, wish to acknowledge that systemic factors within our institution may have led to the unintended entrenchment of discrimination and inadequate responses to implicit bias. We will continue to work with all our colleagues and students to address such challenges.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has over the past decade built a strong reputation for advancing health and equality. We actively promote behaviours guided by our espoused values of inclusivity, compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and equity.
Consistent with these values we have been developing a Faculty Charter under the leadership of the Dean's Advisory Committee on Transformation.
The Charter states: “Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences acknowledges, regrets and sincerely apologises for its complicity in the historical injustices of South Africa's past, and furthermore recognises how these injustices continue to perpetuate inequities today. We abhor all forms of unfair discrimination, exploitation, oppression, intimidation and bullying."
This Charter is a pledge to, amongst other things, promote research that is moral, ethical, accesible and relevant to our context. We seek to engage in research that ultimately benefits participants and communities and to ensure that the welfare of our research participants takes precedence over scientific interests.
Through this charter, members of our faculty also commit ourselves to cultivating empowering environments in which each individual is able to express her or himself freely, while considering and respecting the rights and freedoms of others.
We have launched a number of initiatives aimed at stimulating open dialogue on transformation within our faculty. We will continue these efforts, as well as our various engagements targeted at enhancing the public understanding of science and the public's trust in science.
Professor Jimmy Volmink
Dean: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Photo: Damien Schumann
