Billionaire Johann Rupert’s message to top South African university
Former Stellenbosch University Chancellors Edwin Cameron and Johann Rupert say that the current Council Chair, Nicky Newton-King, should not be considered for re-election.
Rupert, who was chancellor for 10 years until 2019, is South Africa’s richest man, with a net worth of $16 billion.
Cameron was chancellor for five years until the end of 2024 and previously served as a judge on the Constitutional Court.
The term of Newton-King as Council Chair is expected to end at the end of March 2026.
Rupert and Cameron reported that the donors who originally nominated her no longer wish for her to represent them, due to a breach of trust between her and the stakeholders she has represented.
They said that Newton-King wishes to be re-elected to Council through an alternate pathway.
“We regret this. Ms Newton-King’s tenure as chair was marred by grave lapses of judgement and candour in governance. These damaged trust in the Council and the University,” they said.
The former chancellors highlight the findings of the 2024 Kriegler Report, which found Newton-King responsible for failing to disclose information about the Wilgenhof Residence, which “could have influenced the outcome of Council deliberations.”
The Wilgenhof Residence came under severe public scrutiny after a “punishment room” was discovered, with allegations of abuse towards students.
According to Rupert and Cameron, the report unanimously found that Newton-King:
- “‘Knew or ought to have known’ that her actions and those of the then Rector in issuing the radically amended report were wrong; in fact, this must have been ‘plain’ to her;
- Procured the changes through a “simulated transaction” in a process that ‘was fatally flawed’;
- Was duty-bound to alert Council, yet failed to do so;
- Was thus guilty of a material non-disclosure of a “significant circumstance” to the Council, one that ‘demanded’ disclosure;
- Failed to disclose ‘material information that could have influenced the outcome of Council deliberations’;
- Sought to advance reasons for not fulfilling her duty of disclosure that were ‘palpably illogical’.
- Was an active and/or knowing participant in the surreptitious and contrived amendment of the report of an ‘independent panel’ on the Wilgenhof Residence to eliminate an alternative to closing the residence that she and the then Rector thought “troublesome.”
“These governance failures are extremely serious. Ms Newton-King and the then Rector managed to persuade the majority of the then Council, in effect, to ignore or overlook the findings of the Kriegler Report. But they can be ignored no longer,” they said.
Concerns over the university
The former chancellors said that Newton-King’s continued presence would jeopardise the institution’s recovery.
“The future well-being and stature of the University indicate that Ms Newton-King should not be considered for re-election,” they said.
“This would risk undermining the progress made in repairing the damage done during her term as Council Chair.”
Newton-King is a legend in the South African corporate space, having previously worked as the JSE’s CEO. She currently serves on the boards of MTN and Investec.
Stellenbosch University and Newton-King respond
Comments from Stellenbosch University:
Stellenbosch University (SU) takes note of the statement as released by former chancellors Edwin Cameron and Johann Rupert. The SU Council released a statement regarding the Kriegler report matter in December 2024.
The composition of Stellenbosch University’s Council is governed by the Higher Education Act (1997) and the University’s Statute, which set out the categories of members represented on Council.
Elections or appointments for these constituencies — including staff, students, Convocation members, donors and external public representatives — are conducted in accordance with the applicable election rules communicated when nominations and votes are called.
All such processes are implemented in line with the University’s governance framework to ensure transparency, accountability and appropriate stakeholder representation.
Comments from the Chair of Council, Dr Nicky Newton-King:
”I have always regarded my responsibility as a Council member to act in the best interests of the University and all its stakeholders.
While I am one of three Council members elected by the donors, my approach has consistently been guided by this broader duty.
My discussions with donors have, in fact, indicated strong support for me. There are however also some donors who would prefer to be represented by someone else.
In the circumstances, I decided not to make myself available for Council as a donor candidate.
SU is today extremely well capacitated to execute on Prof Deresh Ramjugernath’s bold vision. It has been a privilege to serve my alma mater and to be part of Council guiding SU to this position.”
This article has been updated with comments from Stellenbosch University and Newton-King.
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