Sol Plaatje University students want the student accommodation crisis to be resolved before the new academic year starts on February 20.
SOL PLAATJE University (SPU) students want the student accommodation crisis to be resolved before the new academic year starts on February 20.
The students stated that they had resorted to sleeping on the floors of living rooms or staying in overcrowded spaces.
Tyres were set alight at the main campus as well as at a student residence situated in the CBD on Wednesday, as a large number of second-, third- and fourth-year students have not secured suitable accommodation yet.
Preference has been given to first-year and first-time students to be accommodated on campus, while returning National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) beneficiaries have to find off-site accredited accommodation.
Students who are not staying on campus are also demanding that they be provided with meals from the university cafeteria.
Following protest action, students were seen carrying styrofoam containers of food and bottles of cooldrink.
“The food is okay, it’s just that we are not given meals every day,” they said.
Some students claimed that they had purchased the containers of food.
Students said that they were struggling to find accredited accommodation.
A parent stated that her daughter was diagnosed with stress and anxiety.
“She cannot deal with confined spaces or too many people. She was supposed to travel to Kimberley yesterday (Thursday) to hunt for accommodation. All the accredited places are full. We stay far away from Kimberley and I do not know what to do.”
The director for institutional advancement for Sol Plaatje University, Qondakele Sompondo, said an additional 150 beds would be made available for returning students at accredited off-campus accommodation from February 18.
“The university will continue to update and publish the accredited sites. However, students must apply directly to landlords for accommodation.”
Sompondo stated that landlords could require unfunded students to pay a rental deposit to secure accommodation.
“The university will negotiate with landlords on behalf of funded students regarding late payments due for the first month of their rentals.
“All first-time students that applied for accommodation have been placed at SPU-owned or managed accommodation.
“Based on available space, the university will accommodate vulnerable students residing in Kimberley, following an assessment by a social worker.”
Sompondo advised registered residence students to book their meals 48 hours in advance by using the meal management system.
“This will ensure that we have catered for the correct number of students, as the manual system will be discontinued.”
He instructed students residing at accredited off-campus accommodation sites who wanted to access the dining hall to register their names at the residence office on the meal management system.
“These students will access their meals by using their student cards in the dining hall. Any student who has lost their student card must visit campus security to obtain a new student card.”
He indicated that students would be charged for missing booked meals.
“The university will ensure that the caterer adheres to the agreement on the portion and quality of meals provided to our students.”
Sompondo added that NSFAS-funded returning students would receive their learning material allowances from February 20.
“The university will endeavour to source funding for top-performing achievers.
“Undergraduate students who have passed all their modules and who are not repeating any module, qualify for a merit award to cover tuition costs. Postgraduate students can apply for merit awards if their grade average is 65 percent and above.
“Provision has been made to assist unfunded students in their final year to graduate.”
Sompondo said that while the university supported the right to peaceful protest and was committed to listening to all student grievances, it strongly condemned any form of violence and damage to university property.
Video: Soraya Crowie
