Cape Town - Forced out of residence with nowhere to go, Tanzanian national Adbul-Aziz Temu was one of many students who were told to leave Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) residences over fears students who remained would be harmed during ongoing protests at the Bellville campus.
Vice-chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu said earlier in the week all students were required to vacate the university residences by 4pm on Wednesday if plans for immediate evacuation could not be made.
He said the motive behind the move was to safeguard students and university property.
But Temu said he would be “practically homeless” as he was struggling to reschedule his flight home.
His airline ticket had been booked for later this month.
He said he was scheduled to leave after his exams, but due to protests at the institution, exams were postponed.
“It has adversely affected me because I spent the whole year in school and now I can’t even write exams.
“I don’t know what to tell my parents back home and it might affect my bursary for next year, because they might not understand my situation.”
He added that his parents were worried as they were not close by and he had no family in the country.
“My parents are trying to send me some extra money to maybe get a hotel in the meantime.
“For now I have no idea, I will be homeless. I can’t ask friends because they are in the same situation.”
Temu said rescheduling his air-ticket would cost him R500, and his other option would be to take a bus.
The five-day journey would be difficult
to book as it was difficult to find seats this time of the year.
Tumi Mocwiri, from the North West province, said not having relatives close by was more noticeable in times like these.
“I don’t have relatives in Cape Town, but since we have been asked to vacate the residences I made an arrangement with someone I know through a mutual friend.
“I can’t go home now because I will know by Friday if I will be writing next week, and travelling home will be a waste of money if I have to come back.”
A student from Zimbabwe, who didn’t want to be named, said he wasn’t prepared to travel home yet, and would be staying with friends.
“I have mixed feelings about this whole situation. A part of me is blaming the university and another part blames the students.”
In a statement, the university said campus life would return to normal when staff members returned to work.
“University management has confirmed that academic activities and therefore residence activities are completed for non-final year students for the year.
“Assessment activities for these students will resume on January 11, communication in this regard will be forwarded closer to the time. The exit-level/final-year students who will be writing exams next week will be sent information about their exam schedules by November 20. We regret the trauma that has been suffered by both our students and staff during this period,” it said.
Spokeswoman for the university, Lauren Kansley, said they were not forcing students out: “We are not going to force them out, we have told them to leave residence, but we are not going to force anyone out.
“There are certain categories of students who are allowed to stay, like those in integrated learning or in-service training, postgraduate students and students who have projects to be completed.”
There was a police presence as students packed their bags and left the campus.
Cape Argus
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