CPUT Shutdown Raises Concerns Over Student Access and Campus Safety
University closes campuses and residences after escalating protests and an arson attack, while students demand solutions to financial exclusion and debt-related challenges.
The decision by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) to shut down all campuses and student residences following escalating protests has sparked concern among higher education stakeholders, who are calling for urgent dialogue to resolve the crisis.
CPUT announced the closure after an arson attack on the Old Education building at its Bellville campus, amid weeks of student protests over financial exclusion, historical debt, residence costs, and proposed registration requirements for 2027. University management said the safety of students and staff could no longer be guaranteed.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the decision was taken as a last resort following a series of violent incidents on campus.
“The Cape Peninsula University of Technology management has made the decision to shut campuses, including all residences. This decision was taken after a building was set alight on the Bellville Campus, which posed a significant risk,” Kansley told Eyewitness News.
She added that the institution had reached its highest crisis alert level and that management remained committed to engagement with student leaders.
Kansley further noted that previous incidents had resulted in injuries to staff and students and that the university’s immediate priority was preventing any loss of life.
“The doors to meaningful and constructive engagement remain open; however, we feel the evacuation is a necessary step to de-escalate the violence,” she said.
Student leaders, meanwhile, argue that the protests stem from growing financial pressures facing students. Earlier demonstrations centred on concerns over proposed upfront registration payments, residence fees exceeding NSFAS accommodation caps, and measures related to historical student debt.
The university recently withdrew its draft Financial Recovery Plan following consultation with Council, but unrest has continued despite that concession.
According to Kansley, the withdrawal was intended to allow for broader stakeholder engagement and further consultation on the institution’s financial sustainability plans.
The shutdown has now halted academic activities across CPUT’s campuses, with students instructed to vacate residences and staff directed to work remotely.
©Higher Education News Services. – ednews.africa