Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Desperate students squat at UWC
Accomodation shortage sees TV rooms and lounges used as sleeping space
STUDENTS at tertiary institutions across Cape Town are being forced to squat in their friends’ rooms or live in TV rooms and lounges because of a dire shortage of accommodation.
In pictures handed to Weekend Argus this week, desperate students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) can be seen sleeping in TV rooms and washing their underwear in communal bathrooms.
One final-year student, Sive Mama, who is completing a BA degree majoring in politics, psychology and linguistics, said she shared cramped conditions with nine friends at the Basil February Residence after being told to leave Disa Residence.
“There are first-year students sleeping in the TV room of the Cassinger Residence as well as students staying at the Central Housing Committee residence on campus,” she said.
UWC spokesman Luthando Tyhalibongo said the accommodation shortage at the university was mirrored throughout South Africa.
“Every institution has a finite number of beds and students would normally be referred to alternative accommodation. The accommodation challenge is high on UWC’s agenda and we are exploring solutions to address this, not only for the short term, but also for the long term.”
Tyhalibongo said a number of students had arrived prior to receiving confirmation of admission to the residences. But he said those who hadn’t got a place were “immediately informed and assisted to private accommodation vetted by the university”.
But Tyhalibongo said the university was aware of 15 first-year male students and 14 first-year female students staying in the lounges of Reslife and Cassinga. They were there temporarily because they were stranded. UWC was ensuring their safety and access to amenities such as bathrooms, free food, blankets, study halls and wifi.
“The lounges were suitably enclosed and converted to accommodate these students, who indicated they do not have anywhere else to go,” he said.
UWC was negotiating with three accommodation providers in Parow, Bellville and Kuils River for bulk accommo- dation. “The challenge with securing accommodation is the cost. The university will not compromise on the quality of life to save costs.
“The price has to be reasonable and the facilities must meet the minimum standards,” Tyhalibongo said.
Weekend Argus spoke to a cross- section of the student population at CPUT’s Cape Town campus this week, where a 23-year-old second year public management student, who did not want to be named, said he had not returned a residence slip due to the chaos on campus at the end of last year.
“I arrived from the Eastern Cape on Friday, January 8. and I have been squatting on the floor of my friend’s residence ever since. I visited the residence office every day for two weeks, but to no avail,” he said.
First- year architectural technology student Akhona Mgijima said she had not been accommodated at a residence despite filling in the relevant documentation.
“I had to go stay with my aunt in Langa in a two-bedroom house shared by six people. I couldn’t concentrate because of the two shebeens on the road. It was very stressful and I went to stay with my other aunt in Khayelitsha.”
A distraught first- year student, 19, from East London, wouldn’t be named but, said she had been monitoring her residence application online since she arrived in the city last week.
“The first day I arrived here I was stranded and had to stay with my aunt, who is a domestic worker in Bantry Bay. I could stay for only one night,” she said.
She then befriended a fellow student from Delft, who agreed to put her up until she found accommodation.
“I sleep on a couch in her house and wake up at 5.30am to travel to campus by taxi. This is very difficult for me – I didn’t budget to spend R72 a day on transport,” she said.
CPUT spokeswoman Lauren Kansley said they have not dealt with any official complaints of students bedding down on campus, although she conceded there were often similar problems at this time of year.
“CPUT has 34 residences with space to accommodate roughly 8 000 students across the province. Spaces in residence are in short supply and ultimately CPUT cannot be held responsible for anyone who travels to the institution with no space confirmed for residence,” she said.
Eladius Ferdinand, who has worked at UCT Radio for the past three years, said he had heard complaints that international students were being allocated accommodation on campus before South Africans.
“I have also heard about students squatting in other people’s residences.”
UCT SRC president Rorisang Moseli said he also knew of students squatting at residences because of the accommodation crisis.
“A lot of those students were kicked out by campus security and many of them were given interim accommodation off campus. Makeshift accommodation was made available at common areas on campus for students in transit.”
UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas said 50 students remained in temporary accommodation, paid for by UCT, this week.
“We have been helping them seek a more permanent solution to their housing needs. We do not have information on any students sleeping around campus,” she said, appealing to students without a place to stay to seek help from the Student Housing office.
mika.williams@inl.co.za