Seven Northlink College students are expected to vacate private student accommodationon Sunday following their expulsion after a “disruptive protest” over living conditions.
The group were among 40 students reside at Northville student accommodation in Parow, Cape Town, who staged a protest two weeks ago.
The protesting students marched to the residence’s offices to submit a memorandum that contained 11 grievances including the use of untreated water to flush toilets, limited study space and curfews.
Northville also accommodates students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Seven of the students were informed of their expulsion by the residence’s legal representatives seven day ago. This was followed by another letter on Wednesday informing them that they needed to vacate the premises Sunday.
Northville’s managing director, Antony Berrill, said complaints raised by the group were addressed with Northlink College’s council and all parties were satisfied but some students remained adamant that their concerns were not resolved.
He further said the toilets, bathrooms and showers are cleaned daily in the building that accommodates 273 students.
Berrill said the group was expelled after thee protest prevented student from attending class, the compromise of fire exits as well as the non- compliance with house rules. He said of the seven students, five had prior disciplinary warnings.
“It is always a last resort to expel students, however, in the interest of a conducive study environment, house rule need to be adhered to,” he said.
One of the student leaders Unathi Tyatya rubbished the residence’s claims that their complaints were resolved.
“Our sisters are getting sick here because of the dirty water and they (toilets) have a bad smell. They make us stay in small rooms. How can four people live in one room and pay full price? They treat us like we begged to stay here and we do not pay anything at all,” he said.
One of the expelled students, Sakhiwo Sopoli, said shortly after their expulsion their access to the biometric system that grants access was deactivated - imprisoning them inside the residence.
“I had to risk going out to write an assessment, so I asked someone to open for me (because) our fingers are deactivated. I am shocked about the whole thing. I risked going out to the school because I was writing a test,” he said.
Another student, Bonga Tatani, claimed only a handful of protesters were targeted and expelled.
Tatani said their intention on the day was to submit their grievances but they were ignored and decided to enter the building.
“We have been locked in our rooms because we cannot go out or come in and I could not write two assessments. There were many students when we went to submit the letter but they targeted the seven of us because we are vocal,” he said.
Northlink College’s Sandra Raubenheimer said the expulsion had nothing to do with the college as the lease agreement was between the students and the accommodation.
However, Raubenheimer said they have since cautioned one of the expelled students from threatening other students at the college’s premises.