CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The CPUT crisis has reached a critical boiling point as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) suspended all academic activities and ordered a mass student evacuation from university residences within 24 hours. The directive follows a week of intensifying protests, widespread property destruction, and a devastating arson attack on the Bellville campus, sparking a fierce standoff between university management and the Student Representative Council (SRC).
The escalation peaked on Monday night when an arson attack destroyed the Old Education building at the Bellville campus, which houses the paramedical science department. The incident, which caused an estimated R1 million in damages, was part of a broader wave of unrest across the Bellville, District Six, and Wellington campuses. Reports indicate that the unrest included flooded facilities, blocked entry points, and incidents where fire trucks responding to the blazes were stoned by individuals on the ground.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kensley defended the 24-hour evacuation order as a necessary measure to de-escalate extreme violence and prevent potential loss of life. Kensley described the outcome as a “success,” noting that the campuses experienced a calm overnight and that many students voluntarily left via buses, flights, or were collected by parents. She emphasized that the directive was an “evacuation” for safety purposes, not an “eviction,” driven by intelligence suggesting continued violence and uncertainty regarding outside elements infiltrating the protests.
Conversely, CPUT SRC general secretary Ababalwe Bangiso firmly rejected the evacuation deadline, stating that no student would be forced out. Bangiso cited a 10-month contractual residence agreement and highlighted the severe logistical and financial implications of a sudden departure. The SRC raised concerns about international students lacking immediate travel funds, nursing faculty members who risk losing critical clinical hours required for graduation, and students placed in institutional work programs.
Bangiso also categorically denied student involvement in the vandalism, alleging that a “third hand,” including heavily armed private security personnel, was responsible for the destruction. The SRC pointed to the presence of bullet casings as evidence that students, who do not possess firearms, were being framed. Furthermore, Bangiso alleged that university management has consistently refused meaningful engagement, dismissing recent claims of a meeting between the SRC and management as false and accusing the university spokesperson of misleading the public about student academic records and financial status.
The underlying grievances extend to broader systemic funding issues. Bangiso highlighted inefficiencies within NSFAS, overpriced accommodation, and the compounding effect of mid-year defunding, which drives massive student debt. The SRC has made it clear that academic operations must remain suspended until their demands are met and CPUT withdraws its proposed financial recovery plan.
Addressing the controversy over withheld academic records, Kensley clarified the university’s policy. She stated that students with outstanding debt are permitted to graduate, walk the stage, and receive a “certificate of completion” to secure employment. However, the official academic record is withheld to ensure the institution has a mechanism to recover from its staggering R2.1 billion student debt burden.
Looking ahead, the resumption of academic programs remains entirely contingent on the restoration of safety across all campuses. While CPUT has leveraged its capacity for online learning to mitigate some disruptions, management maintains that inviting the campus community back is only possible when absolute security can be guaranteed. Until then, the standoff between the student body and university administration remains unresolved.