RU denies claims that students slept rough

RHODES University has denied claims of an accommodation crisis and that some students slept rough because they had nowhere else to go.

Communications spokeswoman Veliswa Mhlope said in a statement there was “absolutely no crisis regarding accommodation at Rhodes”.

She denied claims by at least one student that she was forced to sleep in a laboratory because she had no accommodation when she arrived on the weekend.

“It is categorically untrue that students slept in laboratories or anywhere else than in the allocated rooms over the weekend.

“All public venues have CCTV and we have checked the footage.

“We have found no evidence of students needing to sleep in public spaces.”

On Saturday, student Tumi Mhlosape posted on the University Currently Known as Rhodes Student Body Page on Facebook that she spent Friday night in a laboratory because she had nowhere to stay.

She said she was technically broke and could not afford accommodation in town.

The post drew several responses and Mhlosape was organised temporary accommodation following intervention by Student Representative Council president Rolihlahla Mabaso and university staff.

Contacted by the Dispatch, Mhlosape said she was placed in a residence and put on a waiting list for permanent campus accommodation.

“I was provisionally allocated a room (but) due to late clearance for registration I somehow kind of lost it.”

She said if she did not get into a residence, she would have to look for more expensive off-campus accommodation.

Another post by Asinamali Uckar on the student page slammed locals for charging exorbitant rentals for off-campus accommodation.

“Some people post about digs available for exorbitant prices – some of our parents barely earn enough to feed whole families, let alone pay rent for one person in Grahamstown.”

Calls were made to the university to certify off campus accommodation providers to prevent students paying inflated prices.

According to Mhlope, returning residence students who had not advised the university they wanted to remain in residence had been removed from the system.

She said 79 students had been given temporary accommodation in residences on Saturday.

According to Mhlope, although the university had no power to regulate rental prices in the open market in town, they were drawing up a list of approved digs to ensure they were in reasonable condition and students weren’t overcharged. —