CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) have threatened to escalate protests if university management fails to address a growing list of grievances, including deteriorating residence conditions and a controversial new financial recovery plan.
Following a mass meeting at the institution’s Bellville campus, the Student Representative Council (SRC) handed over a formal memorandum of demands to university leadership. The mobilization highlights a tipping point for the student body, who argue that years of unresolved concerns regarding housing, academic documentation, and rising costs can no longer be ignored.
A Tipping Point for CPUT Students
Liyabulela Gela, the CPUT SRC President, stated that the mass gathering was a direct response to long-standing issues that have been repeatedly raised with management without adequate resolution.
Among the primary concerns cited by the SRC are significant delays in issuing academic transcripts and qualifications, particularly for NSFAS-funded students who have been impacted by the university’s accommodation cap. Furthermore, student leaders are strongly opposing proposed changes to the institution’s 2027 financial recovery plan, which they argue will place an undue burden on the student body.
The 2027 Financial Recovery Plan and Rising Costs
The proposed financial measures have sparked widespread anxiety regarding potential student exclusions. According to Gela, the new framework introduces hefty new residence fees and a stringent upfront payment requirement. Under the proposed 2027 plan, students face a total tuition registration cost of R38,500, with a strict requirement to submit R7,000 upfront just to secure their registration for the academic year.
The financial strain is deeply affecting the student body on a personal level. Sabelo Pama, a CPUT student directly impacted by the current fee structures, highlighted the severe debt accumulation caused by the system.
Pama noted that a single registration can leave a student owing the institution as much as R120,000. With NSFAS funding capped at R54,000 for residence and tuition fees, many students are forced to live in overpriced accommodations while falling further into inescapable debt.
University Policy on Withheld Certificates
Addressing the intense frustrations over withheld academic documents, Lauren Kansley, a spokesperson for CPUT, clarified the institution’s official stance on debt and graduation protocols.
Kansley explained that it is standard university policy to allow students to complete their studies and to issue them an academic record, which can be used to secure employment. However, she confirmed that the actual, formal qualification certificates are withheld by the institution until a student’s outstanding debt is paid in full.
Threats of Further Action
Despite the university’s explanations regarding their financial and administrative protocols, the SRC maintains that the current living conditions and proposed fee structures are unsustainable for the average student.
Following the submission of their memorandum, student leaders issued a clear warning to university management: if their demands for improved residence conditions, fairer financial policies, and the release of academic records are not met, the student body is prepared to take further disruptive action.