Dr. Louise van Rhyn will adv. Jan Heunis SC’s place on the Stellenbosch University (SU) board as representative of the SU convocation.
Van Rhyn was agreed to the board last week after Heunis resigned due to a motion of no confidence that Van Rhyn himself had brought against him.
Her appointment is effective from Monday and she will serve on the board until 10 September 2027.
Van Rhyn is a social entrepreneur and in 2005 obtained her doctorate in management at the University of Hertfordshire’s business school in Britain. She is the founder of Symphonia for South Africa, a non-profit organization that seeks to mobilize members of society to tackle social problems.
“We would like to thank every member of the convocation who participated in the election and appreciate everyone who put themselves forward to serve SU in this capacity,” the university said in an email to former students.
Seven candidates were nominated for the vacancy on the council, but one was disqualified after the member used the university’s logo, database or email list during his or her campaign. This is contrary to the university’s policy regarding convocation members who wish to serve on the council.
Heunis submitted his resignation as president of the convocation in June after the convocation convened an extraordinary meeting during which two motions of no confidence – among others in Heunis – were to be considered.
The motion of no confidence was related to the recent allegations of nepotism against the university’s vice-chancellor and rector, prof. Wim de Villiers.
