Wilgenhof scandal: The victims end up becoming the perpetrators says psychologist
Lester Kiewit hosts a panel with Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief at News24, and clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Wolff about the Wilgenhof scandal at Stellenbosch University.
FILE: Stellenbosch University's Wilgenhof residence. Picture: Hans-Peter Klink via Wikimedia Commons
20 years on from his part in initiation practices at his high school, Lester Kiewit admits feeling 'very ashamed'.
The Cape Talk host was speaking as an investigation is launched by the University of Stellenbosch following last week's News 24 expose into 'shocking' initiation practices at its Wilgenhof House residence.
According to the university, “disturbing items” were discovered at Wilgenhof during an audit of the res. They included black hoods, explicit drawings, and photographs of initiation practices.
The University's Chancellor and former "old boy" of Wilgenhof retired judge Edwin Cameron released a statement on Tuesday saying he is 'distressed' by the findings.
Hosting a panel discussion with Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief at News24, and clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Wolff, host Kiewit says looking back he can see the practices at his school were wrong.
"I attended a high school with an initiation practice to welcome in Grade 8s into our school houses. 20 years later, I can see that some of the practices were wrong."
Lester Kiewit, CapeTalk host
"Kissing the bum of a stuffed teddy bear, could have been traumatic to the children involved."
Lester Kiewit, CapeTalk host
Adriaan Basson is a former SU student and editor-in-chief at News24 who broke the Wilgenhof scandal.
He recalls telling his parents how he didn't want to stay in res, because he'd heard the horror stories about the 'hazing' of new students.
"It was kind of a open secret what was going on, particularly in the Afrikaans society in which I grew up, that these initiation rituals were still taking place."
Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief at News24
He says that as a young journalist, one of his first stories was exposing the initiation goings on at the University's Huis Marais.
"That's the hostel where the horrible incident happened two years ago of the urination on a student's computer."
Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief at News24
Sharing his own experience, Kiewit says he took part in school initiations in order to feel 'part of a group'.
Clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Wolff says Keiwit it not alone and explains that initiations are all about bringing new members into a 'closed group'.
"So many high profile South African citizens have participated and done this to other people."
Dr Eddie Wolff, Clinical psychologist
Wolff explains how quickly people can bow to peer pressure or blindly follow the apparent 'leader' of a group.
"As with any other closed group, there is a hierarchy."
Dr Eddie Wolff, Clinical psychologist
"People think it is the right thing to do and they accept it."
Dr Eddie Wolff, Clinical psychologist
The full statement from SU about the so-called 'house of horrors' and subsequent investigation can be read here.
Wolff says often what happens is that the victims end up becoming the perpetrators.
"They go on and in the next year's new intake, they participate in this inhuman practice, because that's how the brain is wired."
Dr Eddie Wolff, Clinical psychologist