Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
15 February 2025 | 12:15CAT
3 min read

Cape Town – The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is grappling with a severe student housing crisis, leaving hundreds of students without accommodation and leading to protests across the campus. The shortage, compounded by delays in NASFAS payments, accommodation caps, and high private rental costs in Cape Town, has sparked intense debate and frustration among students.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Lauren Kansley, the spokesperson for CPUT, discussed the university’s response to the crisis and the steps being taken to address students’ housing concerns.

Kansley noted that CPUT houses 50% of its student population. “We recognised years ago that this was a burning issue for our students and for us. It needed to be addressed, and we’ve incrementally increased housing to a point now where we are well over the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) norm,” she said.

According to Kansley, the university added 1,000 beds this year, bringing the total number of beds to 16,200, which is the most of any university in the country. However, she acknowledged that the demand for on-campus accommodation is far greater than the available space, and the university has had to inform students that it is now officially full. “There is absolutely not one bed available. Those who need accommodation now have to look to private accommodation and external landlords,” she said.

She noted that first-year students, particularly female students, are given priority. “What we actually have an issue with is returning students. Every student who expects to go into residence needs to apply every year. It is not a given that if you were in accommodation this year, you will automatically receive it for the next year,” she said.

Kansley clarified that the university’s application system was misunderstood by some students. “The system does work, but we need students to wait for their status to change from pending to either accepted or full. The problem arises when applicants assume that pending status means they will eventually be accepted, which is not the case,” she added.

Regarding long-term solutions, the university is focused on increasing bed space, but it needs to be done financially sustainably. “We cannot just assume that if we have 38,840 students, that 38,840 need to be housed in residence. That is not the case,” she said. She also mentioned the importance of improving systems and processes to prevent students from arriving at the gates, a situation which Kansley suggested CPUT may have been too compassionate in addressing in the past. “CPUT has been assisting at the gate, which is not something you typically see at other universities.”

She also addressed concerns regarding the speed and responsiveness of the university’s placement system. Some students have claimed that the system left them in limbo for weeks. “The pending status just means your application has been received, nothing more. So while it may feel like a long wait for students, we are only able to assist with on-campus housing for our current student cohort. The rest need to make private accommodation arrangements,” she said.

When asked about how CPUT is supporting students dealing with stress, homelessness, and food insecurity, Kansley expressed that the university offers comprehensive support. “We have food drives, campus clinics, and student counselling. We have been compassionate to applicants, many of whom hoped to walk in for accommodation, which has not been the case this year. We are so oversubscribed that we are at 100% enrollment, a first for CPUT,” she said.

The university offers temporary accommodation for students while they search for housing, but this is only a short-term solution. “It is understood that students must use this time to find accommodation on their own, and many have already done so,” said Kansley.

There are discussions taking place between CPUT, government officials, and other stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to the student housing crisis. “Student housing needs to be affordable. Accommodation procured must align with NSFAS caps, which are around 60,000. The accommodation must be sustainable and affordable for students,” she said.

Kansley also confirmed ongoing dialogues with various stakeholders, including NASFAS, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and Parliament’s portfolio committee.

The issue of student accommodation is a recurring concern across South Africa, with housing shortages impacting universities nationwide. Kansley acknowledged that the high pass rate seen this year had led to even greater demand for university places. “There are simply too many people wanting to get into university,” she said.

This is not going to be resolved overnight, but Kansley believes that with cooperation from private enterprises, stakeholders, government, and universities, they can find ways to lessen the load on universities and make it easier for students to find accommodation.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Lauren Kansley, CPUT Spokesperson, here