The Spark Ignites: Protests Erupt Outside SONA 2026
On February 12, 2026, tensions reached a boiling point outside Cape Town City Hall during President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA). Over 200 students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), a prominent multi-campus institution in South Africa specializing in technology and vocational education, gathered with suitcases and blankets in hand. They had been enduring weeks without proper shelter, resorting to sleeping in student centers, hallways, and even outdoors at campuses like District Six and Bellville. The peaceful picket quickly escalated into chaos as police intervened, blocking access and heightening the drama. Carrying signs and chanting demands for urgent housing intervention, the students highlighted a crisis that has plagued CPUT for years.
Deputy Chairperson of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) at CPUT, Bulelwa Cacumba, voiced the frustration: evictions from private residences due to funding shortfalls had left peers with notices they felt ignored by management. Student Khanya Matshini added, "We are tired of this situation at CPUT. The university admits more students than it can accommodate in residences, and some end up on the streets." This outburst was not isolated; it echoed recurring annual struggles tied to enrollment surges and resource mismatches.
Dire Conditions Exposed: Sleeping in Kitchens and Study Rooms
By early March 2026, the situation worsened for first-year students. More than 30 individuals, including those pursuing Bachelor of Nautical Science, Retail Management, and Information Technology, were relegated to makeshift quarters in contracted residences. One Nautical Science student described the ordeal: "I stayed outside the District Six campus; I was moved the same day I arrived... There are cockroaches here." Another in Retail Management shared, "I just leave my clothes and go to school, worrying that someone might come in and take anything they want. I have been eating takeaways, and the money runs out." These accounts reveal not just discomfort but profound impacts on mental health, focus, and daily routines like ironing uniforms or storing groceries.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley acknowledged the temporary measures as a costly necessity—hundreds of thousands of rands spent—stressing they were for late arrivals without prior arrangements. "We do not want to have students in the common areas of residences; however, when individuals arrive late... we do what we can to assist." Yet, for many, these stopgaps turned semi-permanent amid delays in private placements.
NSFAS Funding Delays: The Root of Evictions and Despair
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), South Africa's key bursary program for low-income students, lies at the crisis's core. Designed to cover tuition, living expenses, and accommodation, NSFAS approved funding for over 660,000 students in 2026 but rejected 116,266 applications. Delays in disbursing private accommodation allowances—capped at R50,000 in metros like Cape Town—have led to evictions, as landlords demand upfront payments or deposits up to R9,000. Students arriving from rural provinces face acute vulnerability, unable to afford Cape Town's inflated rentals.
- NSFAS payments to landlords lagged, with R44 million owed in prior years despite surpluses.
- New rules require a 60% pass rate for continuing student eligibility, excluding many.
- Late funding decisions left first-years scrambling post-arrival.
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela responded decisively post-SONA: "No student will sleep outside. We have been working with CPUT management, the SRC, and others." Yet, as of April 2026, disbursements for private accommodation were promised by late April, underscoring systemic bottlenecks.
CPUT's Allocation Criteria Under Scrutiny
CPUT boasts 16,200 on-campus beds, expanded by 1,000 recently, yet received 80,000 residence applications against over 500,000 study offers. Prioritizing first-years, NSFAS-funded qualifiers, and those meeting academic thresholds (e.g., 60% pass rate), the university insists placements are complete. Spokesperson Kansley defended: "Dissatisfaction with placements does not indicate a lack of accommodation." Private vendor partnerships house about 4,000 more, but walk-ins and latecomers strain the system.
Critics argue admission outpaces infrastructure, with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chris Nhlapo meeting NSFAS Acting CEO Waseem Carrim on February 9, 2026, to address gaps. CPUT appeals to students: source private options via verified vendors.
A National Epidemic: South Africa's Student Housing Shortfall
CPUT's plight mirrors a nationwide shortage. Reports estimate 300,000 to 500,000 additional beds needed across 26 universities and 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Overcrowded, rundown dorms and unsafe off-campus options plague previously disadvantaged institutions, diverting focus from studies. For context, enrollment has boomed—nearly 1 million higher education students—fueled by NSFAS expansion, yet infrastructure lags.
| Institution Type | Beds Needed | Current Shortfall Example |
|---|---|---|
| Universities | 200,000+ | Johannesburg uni: 100k requests for 7k beds |
| TVET Colleges | 100,000+ | Rural overcrowding rampant |
| Total Target (SHIP) | 300,000 over 10 yrs | Phase 1: 15k delivered |
The Student Housing Infrastructure Programme (SHIP), led by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) with Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), targets CPUT in Phase 2. Backed by NSFAS rent equivalents, it aims for affordable, safe beds, catalyzing private investment.
Stakeholder Perspectives: From Desks to Streets
Students decry mental health tolls—depression, anxiety from instability. SASCO and EFF Student Command amplify calls for systemic overhaul. CPUT emphasizes equity via criteria, urging self-reliance. NSFAS blames institutions and providers for unverified lists, while Manamela pledges coordination. EFF's Sihle Lonzi frames it nationally: "It’s not an issue isolated to CPUT; it’s happening across the country."
Timeline of Turmoil: A Recurring Saga
- 2023: NSFAS caps reduced, sparking initial unrest.
- 2024: Floor-sleeping incidents, R44m landlord debts.
- Jan 2026: Late NSFAS decisions, evictions begin.
- Feb 7-12: SONA protests peak.
- Feb 9: VC-NSFAS meeting.
- Mar 2: 30+ first-years in kitchens exposed.
- Apr 2026: Promised disbursements pending.
This cycle undermines access to higher education, vital for South Africa's youth unemployment battle (over 40% for under-30s).
Academic and Wellness Impacts: Beyond the Headlines
Unstable housing disrupts attendance, performance, and retention. Students spend R500+ weekly on takeaways sans kitchens, exacerbating financial strain. Studies link poor housing to higher dropout rates (up to 20% nationally) and mental health crises. For CPUT's diverse cohort—many first-gen from rural areas—the stakes are existential.
Pathways Forward: Solutions and Reforms on Horizon
Initiatives like SHIP promise relief, with CPUT slated for expansion. Recommendations include:
- Timely NSFAS disbursements via digital verification.
- Increased bed builds via public-private partnerships.
- Flexible criteria for vulnerable students.
- Accredited off-campus standards enforcement.
- DHET oversight on enrollment-housing parity.
Explore the full Daily Maverick investigation for student voices. Manamela's interventions signal hope, but execution is key.
Photo by Faith Eselé on Unsplash
Outlook: Toward Sustainable Higher Education Access
As 2026 unfolds, CPUT's crisis underscores the need for holistic reform. With SHIP advancing and NSFAS streamlining, equitable access could transform lives. Stakeholders must collaborate to prevent repeats, ensuring South Africa's universities foster opportunity, not despair. For students navigating this, resources like verified housing portals and appeals processes offer lifelines.