Second Update from Wits University's Vice-Chancellor

Monday, 24 August 2009

INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE EVENTS WHICH TRANSPIRED ON THE 9^TH AND 10^TH OF AUGUST 2009

Dear Members of the Wits Community,

In my last communication to the Wits community, I indicated that I would commission an independent investigation into the events which lead up to and occurred during the Limmud Conference held at the Wits Medical School on the 9^th and 10^th of August 2009.

I have commissioned Advocate Geoff Budlender to investigate the matter.

Budlender is human rights advocate who has dedicated his life to seeking the truth and fighting for a just society. He has a long, distinguished career, which began during his days as an activist when he served as acting president of the anti-apartheid National Union of South African Students.

He has represented people charged with political offences and those detained without trial. He has acted on behalf of people removed forcefully from their land and has fought against the control laws which formerly prevented the freedom of movement of Africans. He has also taken on several cases pertaining to the death penalty, land and housing rights, social welfare matters and medical issues.

Budlender was part of the independent South African Human Rights delegation to Israel and Palestine in 2008. Former chairperson of the Council of the University of Cape Town and a former acting judge of the High Court, Budlender is now in private practice. He served as the Director-General of the Department of Land Affairs from 1996 until 2000. He has spent several years at the Legal Resources Centre, of which he is a founding member.

The terms of reference of the investigation have already been shared with you and more information on how submissions can be made, will be made available later today. It is envisaged that the investigation will be complete by the end of September but this is subject to the material that is available and the number of submissions and interviews which are scheduled.

Further information will be presented to you as it becomes available.

Thank you

Prof. Loyiso Nongxa

Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Wits University