In a recent handover period, Stellenbosch University (SU) saw a change in residence heads at nine different residences, including Minerva, and Huis Visser. Student leaders affected by the transition said they received limited support from SU and shared “bittersweet” sentiments as they adjusted to new leadership in their respective communities.
According to Martin Viljoen, SU’s spokesman, the other seven residences that recently experienced a residence head handover were Simonsberg, Metanoia, Dagbreek, Eendrag, Sonop, Goldfields, and Harmonie.
Simonsberg residence is one of nine residences at Stellenbosch University to experience a recent change in residence head. After 15 years at the residence, Dr Leslie van Rooi, the dean of students, handed over to Ferdi Van Dyk with a farewell event on 27 March. PHOTO: Emma Giles
According to the residence rules of SU, the residence head is “the administrative head of SU in the residence” and ensures that the residence rules are applied. The primaria/primarius is a student, not regarded as employed by the university, who serves as the link between the residence head and the house, and is the chairperson of the house committee (HC), who collectively lead the residence.
The Centre for Student Life and Learning (CSLL) informed Minerva of the change in residence head earlier in the year and the transition was mostly smooth, said Unakho Mpulu, the primaria of Minerva.
However, beyond that there was not any support from SU, said Mpulu. “There wasn’t any other guidance given to me on how to navigate the position of being the person to send off my residence head and welcome the new one in,” she said.
The handover also created some concerns about disrupting the residence’s progress, said Dr Melanie Petersen, Minerva’s outgoing residence head.
“My deeper concern lies in the continuity of the work we have been doing around safety and security over the past three years,” said Petersen. Minerva has been in the process of installing a perimeter fence. “I sincerely hope these [plans] will not lose momentum during the transition,” said Petersen.
SU provided insight into its involvement in the transition process. The cluster coordinator responsible for each residence oversees the handover, and SU monitors “the process through this coordination”, said Viljoen. “There is a structured induction process for each incoming residence head.”
At Huis Visser, the transition went smoothly, said Louis Makkink, the primarius of the residence. While SU hasn’t contacted Makkink directly, he said, he knows that SU has worked closely with the new residence head of Huis Visser, Dr Phila Msimang. “The handover from the previous residence head has been pleasant” with only a slight delay with moving in due to repairs that needed to be done at the residence, said Msimang.
According to Petersen, SU did not play any role in the transition at Minerva. While she was able to personally arrange a meeting with the new residence head, Carmien Snyman, “this [was] not nearly sufficient preparation or induction for a role of this nature”, said Petersen. “I trust that more formal institutional support for the transition process will be forthcoming for the new residence head,” she said.
Unakho Mpulu, the primaria of Minerva, stands on the left of the new residence head of Minerva, Carmien Snyman, who joined the residence on 1 April. Snyman took over from Dr Melanie Petersen who was the residence head of Minerva for the last three years. PHOTO: Emma Giles
“Having a residence head leave is like losing that steady guiding hand,” said Mpulu. The residence head and the primaria lean on each other by providing “gaps on knowledge, resources and networks for each other”.
While Mpulu welcomed the change, she experienced the transition as “bittersweet” as she said goodbye to Minerva’s residence head of the last three years, Dr Melanie Petersen. The pair built a personal connection as they both joined the Minerva community in 2023.
The departure was also difficult for Petersen. “Being so closely connected to young people and their development is something I am deeply passionate about, so stepping back has not been easy,” said Petersen.
What stood out for Snyman coming into Minerva has been “the resilience and commitment shown by the HC and prim”. “They’ve really stepped up during this time of change, and I have a lot of appreciation for the leadership they’ve shown,” she said.
Snyman has “enthusiastically started up in the position and has been eager to learn and be present in the community thus far”, said Mpulu.
The change in residence head at Huis Visser added “a bit more responsibility and pressure”, said Makkink. However, the change was not entirely negative, he said. “I have [had] the opportunity to help the new residence head integrate with the residence and help create long-term goals that he can focus on long after I’m gone,” he said.
Louis Makkink, the primarius of Huis Visser. Huis Visser also recently underwent a transition in residence head from Dr Charl Davids to Dr Phila Msimang who started at the residence on 1 April. According to Makkink, this has been a successful and smooth transition. PHOTO: Emma Giles
The departure of the outgoing residence head, Dr Charl Davids, has also been difficult for Huis Visser as “he played a massive part in a lot of our residents’ lives”, said Makkink. However, the transition went very smoothly and “the new residence head brings a sense of excitement and change”, he said.
Viljoen said the university acknowledged that student leaders may feel an increased sense of responsibility during the transition from one residence head to another and encouraged them to reach out to their cluster coordinator or other student leaders for support.
“Through open conversations about the change, clear expectations, and the experiential learning gained during the transition, students are better prepared to lead during uncertain times,” said Viljoen.
“The recent handovers at Huis Visser and Minerva are part of the normal cycle of residence head appointments” and are not due to any “extraordinary circumstances”, said Viljoen.
SMF News, contacted Dr Leslie van Rooi, the outgoing residence head of Simonsberg, Ferdi van Dyk, the incoming residence head of Simonsberg, Sebastian Le Grange, the primarius of Simonsberg, and Dr Charl Davids, the outgoing residence head of Huis Visser, but received no comment by the time of publication.
Emma Giles resided in Minerva from 2023 to 2025.