As of 1 April, there were 612 students in university residences on the Stellenbosch University (SU) main campus and 137 students in residences on Tygerberg Campus.
That was according to Pieter Kloppers, director of the Centre for Student Communities at SU.
The majority of these students were staying in their original residences during this period, he said.
Students staying in residences during the lockdown adhere to the national lockdown rules, said Kloppers. In addition, SU has implemented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amongst students that remain in university residences during the lockdown.
The university has established a new residence protocol for the duration of the lockdown, said Kloppers. The protocol consists of 10 sections that students are required to adhere to.
There are 749 students in university residences following the national lockdown. Photo: MatieMedia Archives/ Dominique Jeftha.
According to Zimbili Sibiya, a Concordia resident, SU has made an effort to support the students during the current situation.
“I believe they have done what they can to narrow down [the spread] in the spaces I have been to,” said Sibiya.
Hand sanitisers have been placed within residences, and students have also been discouraged from working outside their residences, she said.
“It is a very challenging time for many of us, and the support [from the university] is very much appreciated,” said Sibiya.
According to a statement sent out by prof Wim de Villiers, rector and vice-chancellor of SU, most students who remain on campus have had no other option but to remain in residences during the lockdown period.
“It was a great decision to stay in residence,” said Sidumido Vuma, an international student and Helshoogte resident. “The chances of contracting the virus here are lower and there is still a good service delivery in terms of medication.”
Some of the measures implemented by the university includes a no-visitor policy and students have also been supplied with cleaning equipment to combat the spread of the virus, said Vuma.