Family and friends of the late Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), Prof Hayman Russel Botman, gathered at Huis Russel Botman House on Human Rights Day – 21 March – to officially open this new senior residence on the Stellenbosch campus and to honour Prof Botman's legacy of reconciliation, human dignity and social justice.
His wife, Dr Beryl Botman and Prof Leopold van Huyssteen, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Rector, unveiled the plaque during a special ceremony at the residence on Saturday.
Dr Botman said it was difficult to express in words what this tribute means to them. She described it as evidence of Prof Botman's influence and the difference he made.
"We are proud of him and proud to be associated with him. We are grateful that he used his talents to aspire to a better life and human dignity for all."
In 2007, Prof Botman became the first black Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU. The title of his inaugural address was "A multicultural university with a pedagogy of hope in Africa".
During his tenure at the helm of SU, he sought to realise the University's stated commitment to redress and development.
Student leaders of the residence, who was consulted in the naming the residence, motivated their suggestion in honouring Prof Botman in this way: "Prof Russel Botman played an invaluable role in the recent transformations of Stellenbosch University, which definitely had numerous indirect impacts on Stellenbosch as a whole. Since the residence was built during the time that Professor Botman was Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and still did not have a name at the time of his untimely passing, we think naming the residence Huis Russel Botman House would be the perfect way to honour Prof Botman and celebrate his legacy."
To express this sentiment the plaque reads as follows: "May those who reside in this building call it home. May they be inspired by his legacy and the pedagogy of hope to further the causes of reconciliation, human dignity and social justice."
The residence, completed in 2014 and housing 252 senior male and female students in single rooms, is situated in Marais Street in Stellenbosch.
Prof Van Huyssteen said student communities was of the utmost importance to Prof Botman: "On numerous occasions, Prof Botman said we have to build like crazy. In this he referred to the improvement of physical facilities at SU – student housing included. He also often referred to the important role that student housing plays in the attributes of students who graduate from SU, and he wished for many more students to share in this privilege."
This specific residence and the surrounding development meant a lot to Prof Botman. Shortly before his death, he described as a "fantastic place to be".
"For this reason it is appropriate that the residence is named after him. In this house his ideas are with us and are we in agreement with his ideas of inclusivity, excellence and being future-focused."
Photo captions:
Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, and Dr Beryl Botman, wife of the late Prof Russel Botman, unveil the plaque. Photo credit: Adrian Baillie-Stewart
Dr Beryl Botman, wife of the late Prof Russel Botman, and members of the Huis Russel Botman House forum in front of the senior residence with its new name. Photo credit: Melissa da Costa
