UCT postgrads sleep rough, degrees on hold, dreams in limbo

Postgrad students are sleeping in a parking lot at UCT. A group of University of Cape Town postgraduate students, mostly pursuing master’s degrees, are currently living under a gazebo in a campus parking lot after being evicted from their residence rooms. This situation stems from unpaid student fees and a severe shortage of affordable housing options. These evictions follow earlier protests and legal action by the university, including a case heard in the Western Cape High Court. The students face safety concerns and exposure to the elements.

The evicted scholars had previously been living in vacation accommodation but were unable to secure alternative housing or settle their debts by university deadlines. They now sleep on mattresses in the open air, with their belongings vulnerable to theft. Many of these students come from other provinces or are international students, and finding off-campus rentals in Cape Town is prohibitively expensive. The university’s housing policy, which prioritizes undergraduate students, exacerbates the difficulty for postgrads seeking accommodation.

The university has acknowledged the broader student housing shortage and offers financial aid options, but demand far exceeds available support. This incident highlights an ongoing national crisis regarding affordable student accommodation and the impact of fee blocks on registration and housing access.