Theuns du Toit, a former student at Stellenbosch University, is set to go on trial two years after the urine scandal that sparked widespread outrage and deep-seated racist culture within the university’s community.
When does the Theuns du Toit trial start?
In May 2022, Du Toit was caught on camera urinating on the desk, laptop, and books of Babalo Ndwayana, a first-year student, which led to protests and accusations of racism against the university management.
After a rigorous process undertaken by the tertiary’s central disciplinary committee, Du Toit was expelled from campus and later charged by police with malicious damage to property and crimen injuria.
The trial of Theuns du Toit, set for June 2024, unfolds against the backdrop of disturbing revelations at Stellenbosch University, specifically within its Wilgenhof men’s residence.
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An investigation into Wilgenhof has unearthed evidence of potential cult practices after concerning items were found during an audit. The discovery prompted the university to initiate a thorough probe, led by Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, to understand the full extent of these practices and determine appropriate actions.
The engagement between community members and Wilgenhof residents brought to light initiation rituals for first-year students that were intimidating and demeaning, raising serious questions about the residence’s internal culture and its impact on student welfare.
Further inquiry into Wilgenhof exposed more alarming details, including rooms used for initiation-style rituals, where items suggestive of abuse, such as crude drawings, black hoods, and a toxic mixture meant to induce acute diarrhoea, were found.
An indemnity form granting a private company, owned by former Wilgenhof students, the authority to conduct potentially harmful “boot-camp style exercise programs,” intensified concerns about the residence’s practices. These revelations have sparked widespread reaction and debate, with many calling for accountability and change within the university’s culture.
Stellenbosch University has taken steps to address these issues, forming a panel to review the findings and advise on next steps. The panel includes the university’s Deputy Registrar of Governance, Ethics, and Compliance, an independent advocate from the Cape Bar, and a former university executive. Their report is expected to shed further light on the allegations and guide the university’s response.
Coincidentally, Professor Aslam Fataar, the head of a committee at Stellenbosch University aimed at reforming the institutional culture of student residences, resigned days after the Wilgenhof cult scandal went viral.
