With the leadership of higher education unravelling around SA, this past week the Stellenbosch University (SU) council offered a master class in how to govern our treasured institutions.

Until now I have not commented about the goings on at my university not because I work there (my obligations as public thinker and writer outweighs my employment status) but because I am called in by the executive from time to time to advise on one or other policy; it would obviously be unwise to advise on the university’s direction and then lambaste its leaders in public for its choices. ..