UCT’s annual housing crisis

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Published on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 00:00

Written by Pasqua Heard

An accommodation dilemma hit UCT at the start of this year, as the number of students needing accommodation exceeded the number of bed space in the residences.

Students had to stay in transit accommodation in Glen residence, Baxter, Clarinus, Tugwell, Fuller Hall and Leo Marquad until permanent accommodation could be arranged.

According to James Laird-Smith, Residence Co-ordinator of  the SRC, UCT’s accommodation system is based on a predictive process, whereby the university will estimate the expected number of students applying for residence each year.

 A problem arises when the university’s guess is off the mark, and more students arrive hoping for residence accommodation than are expected. These students are then put into transit accommodation, which is often simply a large living area – much like a dormitory – until permanent residence is organised. According to UCT’s website, about 6 600 students were expected to take up residence this year. 

“UCT always over-allocates the number of offers for residence by five or ten percent. This is designed to mitigate the effect of students not showing up and, consequently, major budgetary problems for the department of student housing,” explained Laird-Smith. 

According to Laird-Smith, the students in transit accommodation are provided residence on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the department of student housing does prioritise students who are seventeen years of age, providing residence for them first, as they are not able to enter into contracts and rent housing themselves. 

Nolukholo Tshwete, standing Director for Student Housing Admissions and Advocacy, assured VARSITY that the accommodation dilemma had been solved during the final week of the vacation, and all students in transit accommodation received permanent forms of accommodation, be it in residences or off-campus. 

“The accommodation crisis has not been as bad as some years in the past,” explained Laird-Smith. “There have been times when transit students overflowed into the Steve Biko building too.”