[imagesource: Twitter / BBC]
Theuns du Toit, perhaps better known as the urinating Stellenbosch University student, is currently suspended after a video showed him peeing on the desk and belongings of Agricultural Business Management student, Babalo Ndwayana.
The incident was first investigated by the university’s equality unit, before being referred to the Office of Student Discipline, and then referred to the university’s Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC) for a disciplinary hearing.
What next, a commission into the commission investigating the report? How very governmental.
Du Toit’s disciplinary hearing kicked off yesterday. However, Ndwayana walked out, reports News24:
Ndwayana’s lawyer, Nomonde Gxilishe, told News24 the student and his legal representative walked out of the hearing on Wednesday.
Gxilishe said that, after dealing with preliminary issues this morning, Ndwayana was not satisfied the panel appointed by the university would be objective…
The hearing is being held behind closed doors.
In a follow-up story from News24, Ndwayana said he won’t participate until the university agrees to change the panel’s chairperson.
Gxilishe said she couldn’t go into too much detail, but stated that Stellenbosch University “has been informed of the only circumstances under which he will return”.
The university said the hearing continued throughout the day on Wednesday, in the absence of Ndwayana.
It also defended the committee, including the chairperson.
While the university refused to disclose the identities of the panel, citing confidentiality, [Ndwayana’s father, Mkhuseli Kaduka], in turn, disclosed that the chairperson was a white woman.
Martin Viljoen, speaking on behalf of the university, said the CDC “is an independent and objective, but closed, committee” and “neither the composition nor the confidential internal proceedings are open to outside influence or speculation”.
Du Toit (above) will likely be hoping the CDC doesn’t bring up the topic of his brother, pictured last December smiling while holding the old South African flag.
That could cast doubt on his uncle’s claims that “Theuns is not a racist, his parents did not raise him like that”.
The university said it will communicate further on the outcomes of the investigation when appropriate.
