CPUT Shuts All Campuses as Student Protest Turns Violent
CPUT Shuts All Campuses, Orders Students Out of Residences as Protest Turns Violent
Published: August 2026 - Updated Today 14 September 2026 - The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has given students 24 hours to vacate all university residences and suspended all academic activities with immediate effect as a two-week student protest over the proposed 2027 financial recovery plan turned violent.
Staff members will continue working remotely while the university campuses are closed until further notice.
Why Are CPUT Students Protesting?
Students have accused the institution of introducing new financial requirements that they say will make it increasingly difficult for financially disadvantaged and NSFAS-funded students to register and access accommodation.
One student, who asked not to be named, said students had been told they would have to pay R3,500 for registration and a further R3,500 for residence registration from next year, even if they were NSFAS beneficiaries.
“We were told that you also have to pay 30% of your debt. At the same time, NSFAS only pays between R50,000 and R55,000 for accommodation, while our residences cost about R65,000 to R70,000 a year. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to pay the remaining amount, so it accumulates every year,” she said.
Students Refuse to Vacate
Another student, Lizole Xhaya, said students would not leave their residences despite the university's instruction.
“We received communication today [Tuesday] to vacate our residences. We are not going anywhere. We do not agree with what the institution wants to introduce,” Xhaya said.
He said students had previously been allowed to register after signing an acknowledgement of debt (AOD), but this will change next year.
CPUT Management Response
CPUT says continued violent disruptions, torching of buildings, and malicious attacks on institutional infrastructure have forced university management to close all campuses until further notice and immediately evacuate the residences.
Source: TimesLIVE - CPUT protest 2026
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