Protests have erupted at The Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) District Six and Bellville campuses, over a severe student accommodation shortage, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Over 400 students in need of housing have been successfully placed, with buses transporting them to temporary accommodations as early as Sunday morning.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley confirmed that the university has been working tirelessly to vet and house students, with new groups being processed in batches as space becomes available.
While the university celebrates the progress, it faces challenges in handling the high demand for housing, especially as the institution has now reached more than 100% capacity for undergraduate enrolments.
This surge, largely attributed to a quick acceptance of study offers for 2025, has strained CPUT’s resources.
Despite efforts to house students, tensions remain. CPUT student leader Lihle Mkohliwe shared that many students have endured weeks without proper accommodations, leaving them without food, shelter or basic necessities.
Some students have been forced to attend classes without adequate rest or a chance to freshen up, making their daily attendance even more difficult.
Meanwhile, CPUT is taking disciplinary action against student leaders it believes are causing disruption by attempting to destabilise the university’s operations.
Kansley explained that while some students are still awaiting placements, many of the remaining applicants have issues with registration, funding or missing student identification, limiting their eligibility for accommodation.
The university’s swift enrolment and the accompanying accommodation struggles paint a picture of an institution caught between a growing demand for education and its capacity to support its students.
As protests and frustrations mount, CPUT continues to navigate this housing crisis, with more updates expected in the coming days.
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