Stellenbosch University has announced the closure of the JC Smuts Study Centre, otherwise known as the SS, in order to convert the space into office areas on 19 April, according to SU Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson Phiwokuhle Qabaka.
A petition to halt construction, launched on 22 April by Academic Affairs Council (AAC) chairperson Risuna Risimati, garnered an overwhelming response from the student body, with over a thousand students signing within the first hour, according to Risimati.
University management has since responded to the outcry by making the top floor of the study space available during certain hours while construction is ongoing, as per official university communication.