Following violent clashes between campus security guards and students demanding accommodation at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, the institution says it is working to find placement for eligible candidates.

This comes after hundreds of CPUT students who came to register for the new academic year were left stranded with their suitcases outside the main District Six campus, seeking student accommodation.

CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley says the clashes in a parking garage on Sunday night were caused by a group of applicants who had been squatting at the District Six campus demanding access to residences.

“Security was forced to intervene after the group set fire to infrastructure, stoned windows and attacked campus security. In some cases, it was clear that these individuals were intoxicated, and security needed to restrain them for their own safety since they were a danger to both themselves and others.”

A video on the Cape Argus Facebook page showed campus security clashing with individuals in the District Six campus’s parking garage.

Ms Kansley said the incident was very disheartening as staff had worked through the weekend to place around 1000 students who were waiting for admission to student residence.

“The clashes which took place are perpetrated by applicants who were not part of this group, and have been told that they do not qualify for residence,” she said.

Towards the end of last month, CPUT unveiled its new CPUT Cape Suite residence in District Six. The accommodation for 400 first-year female students was booked out before the start of the new academic year. (“CPUT unveils new student residence in District Six,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, January 30)

The Tatler visited the CPUT main campus on Monday February 10 and saw hundreds of CPUT students sitting outside the gates with their suitcases still waiting for student accommodation.

A first-year female student from Gauteng, who did not want to be named, said she and other students had been sleeping outside with their suitcases. She described the situation as “stressful” and “a lot to deal with”.

A first-year student from the Eastern Cape said she had applied for residence, but her application was still pending and there had been no immediate response from the management.

Ms Kansley said placement of bona fide students was done with compassion and empathy as the university understood the frustration and anxiety that came with not having accommodation.

“Despite these difficult conditions, our staff members continue to work directly with applicants with ‘pending’ statuses to try and find places for eligible students.”

The status of those who were ineligible for residence would not change, she said.

“This is possibly because they stay within the 60km radius of campus or have exceeded the years of study possible for NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) funding or have disciplinary issues. We will not be able to accommodate them.”

Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said public order police had responded to the incident on Sunday.

“We can confirm that a 20-year-old male was arrested for public violence. Two police members sustained injuries and received medical treatment,” he said.

Sergeant Twigg said police were continuing to monitor the situation at the CPUT campus.

CPUT’s student representative council did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

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CPUT campus clash over student digs