14.02.2026
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I foresaw CPUT accomodation protest two weeks before SONA: Manamela

7 mins



  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students’ luggage outside Ekhaya student residence in Cape Town on February 12, 2026.

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela says he foresaw the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students’ accommodation protest two weeks ago.

Manamela met with CPUT Vice Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo for a briefing session outside the Cape Town City Hall late Thursday night, after he accompanied students to Ekhaya Student Accommodation, where they alleged that they were evicted.

The students, who had a stand-off with police after the State of the Nation Address, also complained about poor living conditions at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) accredited private residence.

SABC News documented the meeting between the pair, where Nhlapo says students are protesting because of the SONA and have not been evicted from any of the Ekhaya residences.

Manamela responded by saying, “You know what’s funny, two weeks ago, was it two weeks ago, I said him (Nhlapo) this thing might happen, on the day of the SONA and they (his team) have been working around the clock to make sure that it doesn’t happen.”

MANAMELA BRIEFS STUDENTS

Briefing students following an inspection, Manamela says university management confirmed that students have not been evicted from the accommodations and that no student will sleep outside.

He says the department is going to inspect buildings that students said are not habitable.

“If they are found on the basis of our standards that we have established as department, any of the buildings, any of the rooms found not be habitable, the NSFAS working together with the university has to find alternative accommodation, so we are going to work on that, we’ve discussed this with your leadership, we’ve discussed this and that this inspection will start immediately from tomorrow (Friday), we want to encourage all of you to work together with the inspectors from the university.”

Manamela apologised to the students for the conditions of the Ekhaya resident.

He says, “So I want to apologise to you, whoever came here, at least with the two rooms that I have seen and confirmed that those two rooms should have students staying in them and so immediately we have to make sure that we change that situation.”

Manamela adds, “ So for now, there will be no student who will sleep outside. We have been working with CPUT management, with the SRC and everyone to ensure that CPUT students never ever sleep outside. This in our view is very unfortunate and it is not because students did not have rooms allocated, it’s because of the quality of the room and that is what we are going to deal with and I hope that this is resolved as speedily as possible  before the academic problem resumes, so for now together with your selected leadership, I have seen the SRC.”

STUDENT GRIEVANCE PERSISTS

Following Manamela’s address students remained on the street with their luggage and belongings insisting that they were evicted and other people have been placed in their rooms.

One student says, “There is no use moving back, we are going to be moving around with bags again. It’s even worse where they have put in people, we are going to find it full, where are we going to sleep?”

“Even if we go in, tomorrow (Friday) we are going to be evicted. There are people they have paid waiting for their rooms and then we are going to be evicted, how are we going sleep?”

Another says, “When you open the tap to wash in the morning, the water comes out and it stops in the middle in the middle of the shower, and also only hot water comes out.”

 

 

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