THE growing unrest over a shortage of student accommodation at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has prompted it to take out a begging bowl to private property owners and staff to assist in the crisis.
On the day the academic year started, dozens of student protesters on Monday erected a corrugated iron shack near the site where a Cecil John Rhodes statue once stood to drive home their point that the university has been discriminatory in how it has approved accommodation.
The demonstration site has been dubbed "Shackville".
The protesters have vowed to disrupt campus activities until the crisis is resolved.
UCT spokesman Elijah Moholola said: "We are appealing for private property owners in Cape Town who may have rooms and cottages available to step forward and assist us in placing the students who are still in need of accommodation and in temporary accommodation at present."
The university has just more than 6,000 beds to accommodate 20,000-plus students.
The main cause of the crisis was that about 700 beds, normally released in January, could not be availed because of deferred exams, outstanding approvals for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and more students needing accommodation.
"We suspect this was influenced by statements about debt relief, the promise to fund all those in need through NSFAS, and discussions about free education.
"The university only has 6,680 beds for a total of 27,000 students. Therefore some 75% of students live outside of the residence system," Mr Moholola said. However, he rejected the Rhodes Must Fall movement’s accusation that the university sought to exclude students based on race.
"It must be noted that it is the actions of (the movement) in interfering with staff and operations that have compounded the accommodation issue as various offices that were meant to deal with (this) had to be closed," he said.
The Rhodes Must Fall movement said: "At residences, the privilege of white students, who are not subject to the large-scale eviction or space shortages black students face on a systematic basis, is further entrenched. This despite them being generally better equipped to find and afford accommodation outside of the residence system.
"The University of Cape Town cannot continue as normal while fees have not fallen and black students continue to be financially excluded from university," it said.
Thousands of students converge at the University of Cape Town last October. Picture: AFP PHOTO/RODGER BOSCH
THE growing unrest over a shortage of student accommodation at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has prompted it to take out a begging bowl to private property owners and staff to assist in the crisis.
On the day the academic year started, dozens of student protesters on Monday erected a corrugated iron shack near the site where a Cecil John Rhodes statue once stood to drive home their point that the university has been discriminatory in how it has approved accommodation.
The demonstration site has been dubbed "Shackville".
The protesters have vowed to disrupt campus activities until the crisis is resolved.
UCT spokesman Elijah Moholola said: "We are appealing for private property owners in Cape Town who may have rooms and cottages available to step forward and assist us in placing the students who are still in need of accommodation and in temporary accommodation at present."
The university has just more than 6,000 beds to accommodate 20,000-plus students.
The main cause of the crisis was that about 700 beds, normally released in January, could not be availed because of deferred exams, outstanding approvals for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and more students needing accommodation.
"We suspect this was influenced by statements about debt relief, the promise to fund all those in need through NSFAS, and discussions about free education.
"The university only has 6,680 beds for a total of 27,000 students. Therefore some 75% of students live outside of the residence system," Mr Moholola said. However, he rejected the Rhodes Must Fall movement’s accusation that the university sought to exclude students based on race.
"It must be noted that it is the actions of (the movement) in interfering with staff and operations that have compounded the accommodation issue as various offices that were meant to deal with (this) had to be closed," he said.
The Rhodes Must Fall movement said: "At residences, the privilege of white students, who are not subject to the large-scale eviction or space shortages black students face on a systematic basis, is further entrenched. This despite them being generally better equipped to find and afford accommodation outside of the residence system.
"The University of Cape Town cannot continue as normal while fees have not fallen and black students continue to be financially excluded from university," it said.
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