14/02/2024
BELLVILLE SRC STATEMENT ON RESIDENCE
The 2023/24 Bellville Local Representative Students Council (SRC) would like to begin with, by affirming its position that it stands with all the students who have residence challenges, be it First Time Entering Students (FTEN), appellants or exit level students.
On the 13th of February 2024, we witnessed the Campus Protection Services (CPS) treating FTEN who had slept at the students centre as though they are criminals and or trespassers, by forcefully removing them from campus under the supervision and directive of the Head of Risk and Protection Services as seen on the circulating videos on social networks. These are students who many if not all, have no relatives in the vicinity and probably have never been to Western Cape before, and more importantly, are registered students in CPUT.
It could not get worse in the evening of the 13th of February 2024, we witnessed once again a hostage situation in Bellville campus where we could not enter nor exist campus as though we have no rights to access campus at anytime, as and when we want. As the SRC, we exhausted all possible measures and tried to reach out to the relevant bodies in the best interest of getting the gates opened and students to be able to move freely on campus as their rights were infringed.
Understanding that all FTEN students who were outside the gate could not access campus in light of the bags and not having rooms where they can sleep, as the SRC hand in glove with the political formations organised some sandwiches so that atleast the students affected can snack as we understand that no sandwich can make a person full. In our commitment to show solidarity to these students, we spent the night outside campus such that should we be needed to assist with something, we would not be far.
Be that as it may, today, the 14th of February 2024, a meeting was forced to sit between CPUT and NSFAS such that CPUT is exempted from the pilot project of NSFAS, and thus making it possible for all NSFAS qualifying students and those with bursaries to be able to go to private accommodations if they wish to.
The placement team of Bellville is doing a wonderful job so far of promoting senior students where possible in the best interest of creating space for FTENs. Some students have been placed where there has been space created, and the team is still working hard to place where it can such that if needs be, the University can get another building to place students.
Moreover, the appeals committee has not concluded its proceedings as yet, however, as soon as they are concluded, all students should get their responses.
We are glad to announce, as a less of an achievement as it may be that no student is sleeping outside tonight as we ensured that B-Block in Heroes house is opened and all the warm TV rooms for students to sleep, and this temporal arrangement has been made for all FTENs and returning students. Placement will continue taking place and be done where there is space available.
As the SRC, we wish to extend our sincere gratitude to all the political formations that stood with the students in matter and still continue to be our support system. Izandla zidlul’ikhanda!
Any student who has other challenges is welcome to reach out to SRC as we are on the ground being the voice of the voiceless as our sole responsibility is to serve you all without seeking any fame and praise.
Lastly, we wish to urge all students to be sceptical of any agent provocateurs and thugs who will want you to pay them in return of assistance, should you come across such a human being, please report them to any SRC member or campus security officer that you see around you. No one must make you pay for anything, and it becomes worse if they ask you for sexual favours. We have no room for perverts and thugs who are taking advantage of our students, hence it is therefore imperative that you come forward and lay a complaint should you experience any of that.
ISSUED BY THE BELLVILLE SRC
Lindani Mthembu (Campus Chairperson)
Phone No.: 0796386834
Email Address: [email protected]
Lebogang Ngwenyama (International Relations Officer, Media and Communications Officer)
Phone No.: 0714625310
Email Address: [email protected]
