The vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University, Professor Wim de Villiers, has been cleared of alleged attempts to interfere in a Constitutional Court case related to the university's 2016 language policy, says a News24 report.

It was alleged De Villiers had tried to convince Justice Edwin Cameron to accept the nomination as chancellor of the university.

‘The investigation found that I had not attempted to influence the Constitutional Court ruling in the Stellenbosch University language policy case when I approached Justice Edwin Cameron to be nominated for election as chancellor,’ De Villiers said.

The investigation was led by Judge Burton Fourie who tabled his final report on Monday.

Fourie wrote: ‘In my view, the facts and circumstances, and in particular the conduct of the rector, do not, when viewed holistically, give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias on the part of Justice Cameron due to influence brought to bear upon him by Prof De Villiers.’

De Villiers said it was his responsibility as head of the university to help find the best possible candidate for this senior position.

‘I hope we can now close the book on this matter and move on as a university community. Both the High Court and Constitutional Court have confirmed that our language is constitutionally justified, and an independent investigation has found that we did nothing wrong.’

Full News24 report