The Council of Stellenbosch University governs this higher education institution and the institutional statute. The full function and composition of the Council is contained in the Statute of Stellenbosch University.

Members of the Council

Rector and Vice-Chancellor

Prof WJS de Villiers (01.04.2015 - 31.03.2020)

Vice-Rector (Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies)

Prof TE Cloete (01.08.2017 – 31.07.2022)

Vice-Rector (Learning and Teaching)

Prof A Schoonwinkel (01.08.2017 – 31.12.2020)​

Vice-Rector (Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel)

Prof NN Koopman (01.07.2016 – 30.06 2021)

Chief Operating Officer

Prof SA du Plessis (01.01.2018 – 31.12.2023)​

Elected by Senate

Elected by the permanent academic staff (non-Senate members)

Prof J Fourie (01.09.2018 - 31.08.2020)

Elected by the permanent non-academic (support) staff

Mr WP Davidse (06.04.2018 - 05.04.2020)

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Appointed by Council

Appointed by the Students' Representative Council

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Appointed by the Minister of Education

Mr AR Dietrich (23.03.2017 – 22.03.2021)

Prof A Keet (01.12.2018 - 30.11.2022)

Ms TS Lingela (01.01.2019 - 31.12.2023)

Dr T Ngomane (01.10.2018 – 30.09.2022)

Ms Z Stuurman (13.07.2017 – 12.07.2021)

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Elected by the Convocation

Mr CD Cillié (02.04.2018 – 01.04.2022)

Prof AR Coetzee (02.04.2016 – 01.04.2020)

Mr H Gonzales (02.04.2016 – 01.04.2020)

Prof J Hambidge (02.04.2018 – 01.04.2020)

Adv JJ Meiring (02.04.2018 – 01.04.2022)

Mr JG Theron (02.04.2018 – 01.04.2022)

Appointed by the Council of the Municipality of Stellenbosch

Adv GMM van Deventer (01.12.2016 – 30.11.2021)

Appointed by the Premier of the Western Cape Province​

Ms GSA​ Ngwenya (01.08.2018 – 31.07.2022)​​

Elected by the Donors

Mr HR Brody (02.04.2018 – 01.04.2022)

Mr JJ Durand (02.04.2016 - 01.04.2020)

Mr GM Steyn (02.04.2018 - 01.04.2022) (Re-elected as Chairperson 18.06.2018)​