- Dozens of students at CPUT’s District Six campus are stranded without accommodation, despite applying before the deadline, leading to protests and clashes with police on 10 February.
- Many first-year students, some from distant provinces like the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, cannot afford private housing and are left with no place to stay.
- CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley confirmed that all 16 200 residence beds are occupied, and while efforts are being made to assist students with private landlords, no walk-ins are being considered.
“We are left stranded and desperate for answers.” This is a common sentiment expressed by dozens of students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) District Six campus, amid an ongoing accommodation crisis.
The students, many of whom have been accepted to study at the institution, claim they applied for accommodation before the closing date last year, but their applications are allegedly still pending.
On Monday 10 February, students clashed with police during a protest at the institution.
People’s Post visited the facility on Tuesday 11 February and was met with many students sitting outside the campus grounds with their luggage. Some said they had travelled from as far as the Eastern Cape.
One student, who introduced herself only as Tania, said she had travelled from the Eastern Cape.
“This is my first year. I was accepted for study at the institution, I wasn’t accepted for two years. There are students that didn’t apply for accommodation, but they are being assisted. We are sitting outside, and we did apply but we are not accommodated. I’m here because I want to study. We cannot afford the private accommodation.”
Another student, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I have been here for a few hours, there are others that have been here for weeks. They came and told us there is no space available at residences, it’s fully booked. I don’t know where they want us to go. The status of my application for accommodation has been pending since last year. I am a first-year. We need accommodation, we can’t sleep on the floor, it’s painful for the body.”
A first-year student, known only as Engelbert, said he arrived from Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
“Most of the students got bursaries and applied for NSFAS. The fees for private accommodation are too expensive. I don’t have place in residence, so I will have to find private accommodation. We have to pay the deposit from our pockets but we don’t have that kind of money.”
Engelbert said his hopes and dreams have been dashed. “They must make space for us. I applied only to an institution where I thought everything would flow naturally. Orientation was supposed to start yesterday. I don’t know what I will do.”
Parent Elvis Mhlangu said he had brought his daughter from Mpumalanga. “We understand that the accommodation application is pending. Some students didn’t even apply. But they will be assisted. We don’t know what to do. Our next option would be to go back. We can’t leave the child alone. Private accommodation is fully booked.”
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the institution had a 16 200-bed capacity across all its campuses and these were filled.
According to Kansley, over 500 000 applications for study were received, and the institution had space only for 38 840.
“We try our best to assist students. We try to place first-year students first. We are working with private landlords. Last night, we moved 32 students to private landlords. We have now put up notices across all campuses to inform students that accommodation is filled.”
She said only students who had applied for residence were being processed.
“No walk-ins are being considered. This is a standard process for the university and is why we encourage applicants not to arrive at campus with no confirmation of residence.”
