Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
By Lerato Mpembe
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has dismissed claims that it has left hundreds of students stranded outside its District Six Campus, despite growing concerns over a severe accommodation crisis.
On Friday, more than 350 students, carrying luggage bags and blankets, were locked outside the institution’s gates, with many alleging they had been ignored by management since the beginning of January. The affected students said they had been left without clear direction regarding their placement in university residences and had been forced to sleep in student halls, waiting for updates on their applications.
Some students further alleged that they were removed from the premises by security staff after voicing their frustration about the slow progress in housing allocations.
CPUT Denies Neglecting Students
CPUT’s spokesperson, Lauren Kansley, has rejected the claims, stating that the institution is actively working to accommodate as many students as possible.
“We are doing our utmost to assist where we can, and this week, hundreds of students hoping to secure residence have had their pending status moved to accepted,” Kansley explained.
She further highlighted that the university’s accommodation department had been working tirelessly to reach students who had yet to confirm their residence allocations.
“Our staff members have been calling students who have not confirmed their status for residence rooms to ascertain if the space can be reallocated,” she added.
According to CPUT, a major challenge is that many students arrive on campus without confirming their enrolment or accommodation status. This influx has reportedly placed additional strain on the institution’s limited housing facilities.
SRC Criticises University’s Handling of Accommodation Issues
The Student Representative Council (SRC) at CPUT has slammed the institution’s handling of the accommodation crisis, stating that similar issues have become a recurring problem each academic year.
The SRC’s spokesperson, Lihle Mgxushuwa, said that students who have been left without housing are fully registered for the current academic year and should have been allocated accommodation by now.
“What they said they were going to do was take students who have been here the longest—because their issue was not attended to—and place them in temporary accommodation in Salt River,” Mgxushuwa explained.
However, the SRC remains concerned about students who have not yet secured funding, with uncertainty over whether they will receive assistance or remain without a place to stay.
Growing Tension Between Students and Management
Despite CPUT’s assurances, tensions between students and university management continue to rise. Frustrated students have accused the university of failing to meet its obligations, leaving them without basic shelter as they prepare for the academic year.
With the accommodation crisis now gaining widespread attention, student leaders have vowed to continue engaging with management to find urgent solutions. Many have called on CPUT to provide clearer communication regarding residence allocations and to ensure that no student is left without a place to stay.
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