CPUT students protest over accommodation crisis.
Image: Wendy Dondolo / IOL
Tensions have reached a breaking point at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) as students protest against the ongoing accommodation crisis, clashing with campus security in a bid to demand urgent intervention.
The demonstrations, which have now spilled over to Parliament, follow the circulation videos of students being assaulted by security personnel while protesting for accommodation.
"We are here as student leaders to support and make sure these students get accommodation," said an Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) representative, who stood in solidarity with those affected.
President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the Bellville campus Fanele Mkhize expressed frustration at the lack of action from authorities.
"We are here because we want to get the attention of the President himself, students have been sleeping outside for more than three weeks now, and we want intervention," he said
At the heart of the protest is a Memorandum of Demands submitted by students, highlighting critical issues such as the lack of student accommodation, delays in financial aid, poor residence maintenance, and safety concerns on campus.
"We, the students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, submit this memorandum of demands to highlight the urgent issues affecting students regarding accommodation, financial aid, residence maintenance, and student safety," the document states.
The students’ primary demand is for all qualifying students to be granted permanent accommodation in university residences.
"Every year, many students who qualify for student accommodation are either left without accommodation or placed in temporary housing, which is often inadequate and unstable," the memorandum reads.
Students also raised concerns over financial aid delays that prevent them from registering on time, disrupting their academic progress.
"Students should not be left in uncertainty about their financial standing while the academic year is already in progress," they argued.
The memorandum further calls for immediate residence maintenance, rejecting the presence of private security forces on campus due to their alleged violent actions against students.
"We strongly reject the presence of violent private security on our campuse, This blatant violation of students’ rights cannot be tolerated," the students demanded.
In response to the protests, CPUT Management issued a statement claiming that violent clashes broke out due to "a group of applicants" squatting at the District Six campus in a demand for access to university residences.
"A violent group of applicants who have been squatting at our District Six campus demanding access to residences have clashed with CPUT Campus Protection Services overnight," the statement read.
The university accused some protesters of engaging in acts of vandalism, including setting fire to infrastructure, breaking windows, and attacking security personnel.
"In some cases, it was clear that these individuals were intoxicated, and security needed to restrain them for their own safety since they were a danger to both themselves and others," the management stated.
CPUT further alleged that many of the protesters were not eligible for accommodation due to academic and disciplinary reasons.
"Their ineligibility for residence is because they are career students who have exceeded their years of study and no longer have NSFAS funding, those who are not progressing academically, those with disciplinary issues, or those who live within a 60km radius of campus," said the management.
Despite these challenges, the university insists that it has been working to place students into residences.
"Our staff members worked through the weekend to place 534 students in residence." stated the management.
In response to CPUT's statement, student leaders remain firm in their stance, arguing that education and housing are basic rights, not privileges.
"We urge the Portfolio of Higher Education and Learning committee to take immediate action on these demands. Education is a fundamental right, and no student should be denied access due to accommodation shortages, delayed financial aid, poor living conditions, excessive costs, or an unsafe campus environment," the memorandum states.
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