CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The ongoing CPUT protests have brought the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to a standstill, with more than a thousand students rallying against deteriorating residence conditions, controversial financial recovery plans, and withheld academic certificates.
Following a mass meeting at the Bellville campus last week, student leaders delivered a comprehensive memorandum of demands to university management, resulting in an institutional shutdown that has halted academic activities across the Bellville, Cape Town, and N6 campuses.
At the forefront of the demonstrations are the severe and worsening living conditions within university housing. Liyabulela Gela, President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), painted a grim picture of the residences, stating that facilities have suffered from chronic under-maintenance and severe short-staffing for years.
According to Gela, oversight inspections alongside university management have revealed uninstalled appliances, including stoves that have been sitting in storage for over six months. Students are also enduring broken showers and bathrooms, with Gela noting that the poor conditions are particularly concerning in female residences. The SRC president attributed the stalled repairs to a delayed and seemingly stuck tender approval process for maintenance contracts.
Beyond infrastructure, the CPUT protests are heavily driven by the university’s proposed 2027 Financial Recovery Plan. The SRC strongly rejected the plan, which they allege introduces a mandatory upfront registration fee of R7,000 for all students. Furthermore, students are protesting proposed “clearance rules” that would force students to pay a percentage of their historical debt even if they achieve a 100% pass rate in their modules. The SRC also claims management intends to scrap the current Acknowledgement of Debt (AOT) system, which currently allows students to negotiate manageable payment plans based on their individual financial cases.
Addressing these financial allegations, CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley clarified the university’s stance. Kansley denied that the institution is demanding an immediate R7,000 upfront payment for the 2027 academic year. Instead, she explained that the university is merely “canvasing and workshopping” the concept as a necessary measure to ensure the institution remains fiscally prudent and financially responsible in the long term.
Tensions have also boiled over regarding academic progression and leadership accountability. A major point of contention is the withholding of qualification certificates. While Kansley confirmed that graduates are permitted to complete their studies and receive their academic records, actual qualification certificates are currently being withheld, a policy that has disproportionately affected students impacted by the recent NSFAS funding cap.
In response to the certificate withholding and broader financial grievances, the SRC is calling for a complete overhaul of the university’s executive leadership. The memorandum demands the immediate removal of the Vice-Chancellor, the university’s Chief Financial Officer (noted by students as a former NSFAS CEO), and the Director of Infrastructure and Facilities Management (IDFM). Student leaders allege a long-standing misuse of university funds and cite the IDFM Director’s failure to execute vital residence maintenance as grounds for dismissal.
As the standoff continues, the university remains under a strict shutdown. Gela maintained a firm stance on behalf of the student body, declaring that the protests and the institutional closure will persist until every demand outlined in the SRC’s memorandum is fully met by management.
