Dozens of Buffalo City College (BCC) students were forced to return home or find alternative accommodation after being evicted from residences on Wednesday night.
The college instructed security personnel to manage access to residences due to claims of students “squatting” with friends.
A student, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said when they returned to one of the residences on Wednesday night they were met by security guards who told them “squatters” were not allowed.
The student was one of a group of about 50 who did not get student accommodation due to space constraints and failing the college’s academic requirement to secure a spot at the res.
“I did not get accommodation this year because I did not meet the seven subjects pass that is required by the college,” the student said.
“However, I am a NSFAS beneficiary and I cannot afford alternative accommodation.”
The student returned to Keiskammahoek on Wednesday night after being denied access to a fellow student’s room.
BCC principal Dharamchand Singh could not be reached for comment yesterday. His personal assistant told the Daily Dispatch he was in a meeting the whole day.
Mfundo Gqo, who serves as a residence officer in the student representative council, said the situation of the evicted students was “managed” yesterday and students were allowed back in the residence.
However, students who spoke to the Dispatch said the SRC agreement with management had been reached late and many of the students had made alternative arrangements.
“I had to go home before it got dark so by the time I got the message that we were allowed in the residence I was already home,” one of the students said late yesterday.
Another student said that she did not understand why management did not prioritise NFSAS beneficiaries when it comes to residence allocations because they had no money to pay for flats in East London.
“This did not have to happen. How do you throw people into the street?
“We have been having problems with accommodation with this college ever since we started and they do not have any commitment to change the situation,” she said.
BCC students have been at loggerheads with management over various issues including the food allowances, access to the internet and an increase in residences.
Evicted students left out in the cold
The college instructed security personnel to manage access to residences due to claims of students “squatting” with friends.
A student, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said when they returned to one of the residences on Wednesday night they were met by security guards who told them “squatters” were not allowed.
The student was one of a group of about 50 who did not get student accommodation due to space constraints and failing the college’s academic requirement to secure a spot at the res.
“I did not get accommodation this year because I did not meet the seven subjects pass that is required by the college,” the student said.
“However, I am a NSFAS beneficiary and I cannot afford alternative accommodation.”
The student returned to Keiskammahoek on Wednesday night after being denied access to a fellow student’s room.
BCC principal Dharamchand Singh could not be reached for comment yesterday. His personal assistant told the Daily Dispatch he was in a meeting the whole day.
Mfundo Gqo, who serves as a residence officer in the student representative council, said the situation of the evicted students was “managed” yesterday and students were allowed back in the residence.
However, students who spoke to the Dispatch said the SRC agreement with management had been reached late and many of the students had made alternative arrangements.
“I had to go home before it got dark so by the time I got the message that we were allowed in the residence I was already home,” one of the students said late yesterday.
Another student said that she did not understand why management did not prioritise NFSAS beneficiaries when it comes to residence allocations because they had no money to pay for flats in East London.
“This did not have to happen. How do you throw people into the street?
“We have been having problems with accommodation with this college ever since we started and they do not have any commitment to change the situation,” she said.
BCC students have been at loggerheads with management over various issues including the food allowances, access to the internet and an increase in residences.
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