More than 20 students registered at Stellenbosch University (SU) are still without accommodation and are currently being cared for by the Thuma Foundation.
A notice inside Stellenbosch University’s Administration A building, indicating that the emergency accommodation for students is now closed. PHOTO: Iva Fulepu
This was confirmed by Phiwokuhle Qabaka, chairperson of SU’s student representative council (SRC).
The 28 students have been provided with temporary accommodation and meals through the Thuma Foundation, which was founded by Professor Thuli Madonsela, law trust chair in social justice at SU. This was confirmed by Dr Choice Makhetha, senior director of the division of student affairs at SU.
Residences at maximum capacity
Initially, over 500 students were affected by accommodation shortages on campus, said Qabaka.
According to SU spokesperson Martin Viljoen, the university’s residences are currently at maximum capacity and there are more students who still need accommodation.
“The university has worked tirelessly and has exhausted all avenues to accommodate students who arrived on campus without firm accommodation arrangements,” said Viljoen.
“Students are supposed to make [their] own arrangements for permanent accommodation during the registration process, for the rest of the academic year,” said Makhetha.
The university provided 48 hours of temporary accommodation for students who arrived on campus without accommodation, said Makhetha. This was to allow students time to look for permanent accommodation during the registration period. This assistance was available from 31 January until the end of registration period, she said.
The Student Accommodation office in the Administration A building at Stellenbosch University helps students to find housing on, or near, the university campus. PHOTO: Iva Fulepu
‘Tired of trying’
“I am so exhausted and tired of trying. I don’t have any backups, my parents are so disappointed,” said Siphesihle Makhuba, a former first-year student at SU who recently deregistered after being unable to find accommodation at SU. Makhuba said that she applied for the accommodation waiting list and private accommodation, but was unsuccessful.
For one of the students who still requires accommodation, going home is “just not an option”, Qabaka told SMF News. “They were a security guard before they came here,” said Qabaka.
“I’m still homeless and I’m now thinking of deregistering and going back home,” said another affected first-year student at SU, who spoke to SMF News on the condition of anonymity on 28 February.
The outside of the Administration A building at Stellenbosch University, where students go to register and access various services. PHOTO: Iva Fulepu
The affected student told SMF News that they have been staying in a shack in Khayelitsha and travelling to Stellenbosch to attend classes. The student, who is originally from KwaZulu-Natal, said that their inability to secure accommodation in Stellenbosch has impacted their studies and mental health negatively.
According to Viljoen, students are not required to fill out their reasons for deregistering, and it is thus impossible to quantify the number of students who might have deregistered due to accommodation issues.