Activist mother escalates racism claims against Stellenbosch University to Parliament
The students room was trashed and his bed removed
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The mother of the Stellenbosch University student whose residence room was allegedly vandalised earlier this week has escalated the dispute to Parliament, alleging racism at the institution and calling for intervention by the portfolio committee on higher education.
Education activist Vanessa Le Roux said she had written to the committee’s chairperson, Walter Letsie, urging MPs to consider conducting an oversight visit to the university and investigate what she described as a culture of discrimination in student residences.
Her appeal follows an incident at the Majuba men’s residence on Monday night when a student returned to find his room ransacked, with bedding, furniture and personal belongings removed. The controversy prompted the residence primarius to step down while investigations by both Stellenbosch University and the South African Police Service continue.
In her letter to the committee, Le Roux said she believed the matter had grown beyond the incident involving her son and raised broader concerns about what she described as racist behaviour and exclusion experienced by students of colour in residence spaces.
“I have realised this is much bigger than my son,” she wrote. “This is for all the children of colour who have to suffer in silence at that university.”
Le Roux also alleged that the university had not contacted her directly since the incident and claimed that her son had been treated as though he were responsible.
“As it stands the police investigation is well underway. I have no idea where the university’s investigation is, as they have never made any contact with me, and my son has been treated like he was the perpetrator,” she wrote.
She further questioned the legitimacy of the university’s student representative council, claiming it had not been properly elected, and called for it to be dissolved and replaced with what she described as a properly elected structure.
Among the requests made to the parliamentary committee were that it conduct an oversight visit to the Stellenbosch campus and review residence practices, which she alleged reflect a dominant Afrikaner culture rather than inclusive traditions.
“True transformation requires inclusion, not numbers of students of colour that they present as inclusion,” Le Roux wrote.
Martin Viljoen, media manager for SU said in response to it: "The University takes note of Ms Le Roux's correspondence to the Portfolio Committee. The University reiterates that its thorough internal processes are underway and will be concluded in accordance with its established rules and procedures."
The latest developments follow the incident earlier this week at Majuba residence where the student discovered his room had been entered and his belongings removed.
In a letter circulated to residents, the residence leadership acknowledged the incident and apologised to the student.
“We regretfully acknowledge that this has caused him emotional harm and infringed on his dignity. What has happened is against the values of Majuba and should not have happened,” the residence leadership said.
Stellenbosch University previously confirmed that the incident is being investigated by the South African Police Service after a complaint of unlawful entry and damage to property was laid.
The university said it had also launched an internal investigation and would prioritise the safety and dignity of all students during the process.