Protesting students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) are opposing the continuation of the examination period until their grievances about poor living conditions in residences are adequately addressed.
Demonstrations have taken place at various off-campus residences, including disruptions to exam venues, raising concerns about potential interruptions to the academic programme.
Student Representative Council (SRC) President McIntosh Khasembe said it is unfair to expect students to access and succeed in examinations when the university has not ensured adequate socioeconomic conditions for learning. He highlighted severe problems at Uniball residence, a four-year-old complex that accommodates about 2,700 students. Despite approximately R20 million spent on maintenance, students report persistent issues including broken taps, water shortages, lack of shower facilities, and no Wi-Fi connectivity.
Khasembe pointed out that older residences (20–25 years old) often have stronger and more adequate infrastructure despite less frequent maintenance. The SRC has repeatedly requested full maintenance reports dating back to 2023, but these have not been provided. A log of maintenance tickets was shared instead, which the SRC views as insufficient.
Protest action was a last resort after failed engagements, Khasembe said. A peaceful memorandum outlining the grievances was delivered and signed by senior university officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Director for Finance and Services, Director of Infrastructure and Engineering, Manager of ICS, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Development and Support, and Head of Legal Services. The memorandum included a commitment to assess the residences and stated that mass action would follow if the issues were not resolved by Wednesday, 20 May. A subsequent meeting with university executives collapsed when it became clear the problems could not be fixed by the deadline.
University spokesperson Gasant Abarder acknowledged the concerns raised by the SRC and confirmed that engagements with student leaders have been respectful. The university is aware of the issues at Uniball, including water problems and broken taps. The Rector visited affected areas, including Uniball, following recent storms and expressed concern.
Abarder stated that the university is sympathetic to the students’ situation and has indicated that scheduled exams will be reconsidered, with business continuity plans in place. The institution aims to ensure all students can write examinations under fair and equitable conditions. While some maintenance challenges are not quick fixes, there is an urgent effort to expedite repairs.
Both the SRC and the university expressed willingness to continue engagements to resolve the matter quickly. Abarder described the current SRC as a mature leadership group with whom the university has previously worked constructively on issues such as student hunger. The university emphasised that it is in no one’s interest for students to live or learn in unsuitable conditions or for examinations to be disrupted.
