PUBLIC STATEMENT BY THE EQUAL EDUCATION TERTIARY SOCIETY
(EETS): CALL FOR URGENT ACTION AT UWC
The ongoing accommodation crisis at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has reached
an intolerable level, severely compromising students’ well-being, safety, and academic
success. The university’s executive management has failed to provide a tangible and
sustainable solution to this crisis. Instead, misleading statements have been issued, creating a
false impression that 1180 bed spaces have been secured. This claim is not only inaccurate
but directly contradicts the reality students face on the ground.
In fact, the situation has worsened—the closure of Cassinga Residence under the pretext of
renovations has significantly reduced available bed spaces. This has forced many students
into overcrowded, unsafe, and unaffordable private accommodations, exposing them to
financial exploitation and precarious living conditions. Many students have been left with no
alternative but to sleep in TV rooms, the student center, and the SRC office, creating an
unacceptable and undignified living environment.
While the university claims that Cassinga Residence is closed for renovations, there has been
no clear communication on timelines or alternative arrangements for affected students. The
question remains: Why was Cassinga closed without ensuring adequate alternative
accommodations? If the residence was deemed unfit for occupation, then students should
have been provided with safe and stable housing before the start of the academic year.
Instead, students are now being moved around with no clear strategy, creating havoc.
For example, students who were initially without residence were moved to Simonsberg, only
for them to take the spaces of returning students, leaving them with nowhere to stay. This
disorganized and inconsistent approach has created a chaotic cycle of displacement, with no
proper planning or transparency. Students are being moved around endlessly with no clear
plan on a sustainable way forward. The complete lack of cohesion in the university’s housing
strategy is exacerbating the crisis instead of resolving it.
Moreover, the desperation for accommodation has led to increased exploitation of students by
private landlords, particularly in Belhar. Students are being scammed by fraudulent landlords,
while others are being forced to pay exorbitant fees simply because landlords know they will
do anything to secure a place to stay.
This situation is not just an inconvenience; it is a direct threat to students’ academic success
and well-being. The financial and emotional burden placed on students and their families is
unacceptable, with some parents even considering deregistering their children because they
simply cannot find a place for them to stay.
In light of this unfolding humanitarian crisis, EETS demands the following immediate
actions:
1. Postponement of academic classes until a structured and effective accommodation
plan is in place. Students cannot be expected to focus on their studies while
experiencing such instability.
2. Immediate reopening of Cassinga Residence, provided that it is safe for occupation.
If renovations must continue, students should be temporarily housed in university funded alternative accommodations until Cassinga is ready.
3. A transparent and structured housing plan, including clear communication on
available residences. The current system of moving students around with no strategy
must end.
4. Urgent intervention to protect students from exploitation by private landlords.
The university must take responsibility for ensuring that all students have access to
affordable, NSFAS-accredited housing and properly vet all recommended private
accommodations.
5. An emergency relief plan for displaced students and their families who are
currently struggling to find accommodation. The university must acknowledge and
address the distress this crisis is causing.
6. Immediate transparency and accountability from UWC management regarding
the alleged 1180 bed spaces. If they exist, where are they? If they do not, then
management must be held accountable for misleading students.
The EETS also demands that the registration period be extended for students who received
offers this week. The university has been shamefully giving out offers and only give students
only one day to accept the offer and to pay the registration fee. With the majority of students
coming from poor backgrounds and relying on NSFAS to fund them, it is impossible for a
student to register within hours of accepting an offer. We hereby reiterate our calls for the
commencement of the academic year to be postponed to also give those students who have
recently received offers enough time to register.
UWC has failed its students, and we must not stand by while this crisis continues. If
management does not act immediately, students will have no choice but to escalate action.
Students deserve honesty, dignity, and respect—not empty promises and disorganized
responses. No student should be left homeless while the university expects them to perform
academically. If immediate action is not taken, EETS will continue to mobilize students to
demand their right to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
We refuse to accept inaction.
In solidarity,
Equal Education Tertiary Society (EETS)
University of the Western Cape
For enquiries:
Chairperson: Sinoyolo Ngantweni | 073 237 3692
Media and Communications Officer: Kamogelo Maleka | 064 904 2860
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