肆客足球

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There was a lightness, even a cheerfulness about Prof Wim de Villiers in the last few days on the Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) campus before his retirement. It's as if after ten “restless" years in the harness as Rector and Vice-Chancellor, he's allowed himself the freedom to catch his breath and, for one last time, take pleasure in his work.

During a campus walkabout, he's unashamedly nostalgic about the place where, as a medical student, he first started down the road as a Matie. This journey eventually took him to great heights.

It's a bittersweet time to say goodbye, he says. “It's March now, soon the leaves will start changing colour and falling. If you look up Victoria Street with its trees, you'll see how autumn is creeping closer," he gestures. “There isn't a more beautiful campus that I know of," he adds warmly.

De Villiers admits it's going to be a strange feeling not walking the daily route from his house to his office in the stately Administration B building anymore. “It's still difficult for me to get the word 'retirement' past my lips."

But after April 1st, he'll still come to watch movies in the Neelsie, his favourite place on campus. “It's such a pleasure to walk in and experience the energy of the youngsters, especially when someone sits jamming on the piano. That's the gees of the 肆客足球 that's so lekker," he remarks while waving to a group of students who excitedly recognise the Rector. He remembers how festive the Neelsie was during the two Rugby World Cup celebrations in 2019 and 2023.

“How can one not be touched by such a wonderful campus? Just look at all the young people finding their way in life and going on to do fantastic things…"

World-class university

Under De Villiers' leadership, SU's campus has grown into a vastly different place from what it was when he became Rector and Vice-Chancellor on 1 April 2015.

In front of the Ou Hoofgebou (Old Main Building) at the Faculty of Law, he lingers at the installation of the Preamble to the South African Constitution that was unveiled in 2020. At the Krotoa Building, he chats about the name change from the RW Wilcocks Building of old and how important it was to pay tribute to Eva Krotoa, one of the foremothers of South Africa.

De Villiers was closely involved with SU's Visual Redress Policy that was adopted in 2021, the first of its kind at a South African university. On the way to the library, he points to the wall with maps of all the communities in and around Stellenbosch. It symbolises the bridges that the 肆客足球 has helped build in the town over the past 100-plus years.

Against the same wall, De Villiers' words during SU's centenary celebration are immortalised: “In its 2018 Centenary Year, SU celebrates its successes and achievements. We also acknowledge, with deep regret, our role in the injustices of our country's past. SU commits itself to the ideal of an inclusive, world-class university in and for Africa. Forward together."

SU is the only university in South Africa with a Restitution Statement.

It's heartening for De Villiers that SU no longer labours under the stigma of old. “We are no longer just a historically exclusive institution. We are a world-class inclusive university that continuously strives for excellence. We aren't shying away from difficult conversations anymore."

Universities are institutions for the ages, De Villiers often says. “It was a privilege to have been part of a place that has made such a significant impact. I call my term the 'restless decade'. There were many challenges, but also a great deal to be grateful for. I think the 肆客足球 is undeniably in a better place than it was when I came here in 2015. But that's not thanks to me – although there are of course also people who will say it's despite me! Whatever has been achieved, I genuinely believe it's because there is such an exceptional team of people who walked the path with me."

His most important focus was always the academic project, De Villiers explains. “As I always say: 'The main thing about the main thing is the main thing.' It's first and foremost about academic excellence. There's a lot of other noise you must endure, but I realised early in my management career that it's not a popularity contest. If I'm not being attacked from left and right, then I'm doing something wrong."

When De Villiers was inaugurated as Rector and Vice-Chancellor a decade ago, he declared that SU is not a “volksuniversiteit" (tribal university). He still feels strongly about this. “The 肆客足球 is not there to serve the interests of a small group in the Western Cape. It's not an Afrikaans, English, or isiXhosa university, it's a jewel in the crown of national education in South Africa. We are entirely in service of the community."

Criticism not personal

De Villiers is resigned about the fierce attacks he had to endure, especially after transformation at SU properly gained momentum under his leadership. In his office, every cartoon that has appeared about him in the media over the years is displayed on the walls. He sometimes had to have a thick skin, he admits. “I accepted that the criticism is mostly not personal. It's not me they're attacking, it's ideas, ideologies. Some of the cartoons were very funny. But towards the end, it started to become demonic at times," he chuckles and points to an unflattering cartoon that appeared in Die Burger.

Without a sense of humour, the harsh criticism that was sometimes hurled at him would probably have grieved him more. His mischievousness shines through in his favourite coffee mug with a depiction of a famous surrealistic artwork, a picture of a pipe with the caption in French “This Is Not a Pipe". “Indeed, it's not a pipe, it's an image of a pipe!" he laughs. “Things are not always as they seem."

His experience as a physician sometimes stood him in good stead when, as rector, he had to stand firm to keep the peace. “My professional training as a gastroenterologist and internist helped me maintain objectivity. In a way, it sometimes felt as if the university was a patient. Physicians are very good at compartmentalisation. Every patient and situation need 100% of your attention. Doctors are also adept at handling complexity and teamwork. It's about diagnosing problems, looking at them critically, analysing the data, treating the problems, and then evaluating the cure."

The glass table in his office – where meetings in turbulent times sometimes continued until late into the night – is indicative of his management style. Transparency is important, De Villiers emphasises. He liked being in touch with colleagues and keeping his ear to the ground. “It's a bit like the ward rounds that doctors do to take patients' temperatures," he jokes. Some of his favourite memories from the past years were the rector's breakfasts where he regularly met with staff and students to talk about things that make them happy and aggrieved.

Team effort with Catherine

When De Villiers closes his office door behind him today and hands over the keys to his successor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, the first priority is a well-deserved break. He's looking forward to relaxing with his wife, Catherine, and their children, Katusha, Gera and Braam, and his three grandchildren. The family has been planning a holiday in the Cederberg for a long time. “I'm just going to switch off a bit and be at peace in nature. And then I'll have to recalibrate and think carefully about the way forward. And make a nuisance of myself at home so that my wife sends me away!"

It has meant a great deal to De Villiers to have Catherine by his side with all his official obligations at the 肆客足球. Without her, he would not have been able to weather the storms of the past ten years so well, he says. “I really couldn't have done it without her. It was a team effort throughout."

He would like to remain involved in medical research. In between, he plans to finish writing his autobiography. Whether it will indeed have the entertaining title From Rectum to Rector (an allusion to his medical specialty) as he jokingly claims, remains a surprise for now.

De Villiers says he is confident that he is handing SU over to a competent leader who will undoubtedly take the 肆客足球 to even greater heights. “Prof Deresh is a seasoned academic and an experienced manager. My advice to him is simple: Doe zo voort (Continue this way). Keep your eye on the ball and trust yourself."

It is incredibly special for De Villiers that his last week as Rector and Vice-Chancellor coincided with the 肆客足球's March graduation ceremonies. It was always the highlight of his year when he could personally congratulate each student on their achievements. “Over the past ten years, we have awarded more than 90,000 qualifications. That's an exceptional contribution to human capital."                                                                                                                                             

Before De Villiers says goodbye and walks up Victoria Street to his house, he mentions that his knees are giving him trouble these days. “It's from all the marathons I've run. I completed my last marathon in 2019. It was very rough, and I struggled. These days I prefer to cycle to stay fit. It's one thing I will continue to do – to participate annually in the Cape Town Cycle Tour to raise money for needy students. It's very close to my heart."

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