​​Dear Students and Colleagues

Enough is indeed enough. Gender-based violence is a serious problem affecting all sections of society, including Stellenbosch University (SU).

My fellow members of the Stellenbosch University Rectorate who attended the gathering on the Rooiplein on 6 September informed me of your calls to action in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

We subsequently received a memorandum (click here) from the Anti-GBV Movement SU on 9 September, and constructive discussions took place. Taking cognisance of the calls, the five-page summary extract from management’s response provided on 16 September highlighted specific actions.

We are now releasing our comprehensive response (click here), which contains background and more information. We refer to initiatives and services that are already in place, and include some concrete, tangible steps that will be taken in the short, medium and long term. A follow-up discussion is scheduled for this afternoon.

The Rectorate would like to express our appreciation for the work done by the Anti-GBV Movement SU to not only raise concerns and grievances, but to also make constructive suggestions. We are committed to work together with our students and staff to intensify our institutional efforts against GBV.

All stakeholders should therefore urgently and ceaselessly work towards solutions. SU recognises the importance of its role in the fight against gender-based violence and commits itself to eliminating its presence on all of our campuses.

Prof Wim de Villiers
Rector and Vice-Chancellor