CPUT Orders Thousands of Students to Vacate Residences Amid Protests

Thousands of Students Told to Leave Cape Town Residences

The critical fact is that thousands of students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) have been given until Wednesday to vacate their residences across campuses in Cape Town. This follows days of protests by students who are objecting to CPUT's draft 2027 financial recovery plan, which proposes that students pay up to R7,000 to register for the new academic year. The protests have resulted in buildings being torched and property damaged.

The legal significance of this development is that it highlights the ongoing tensions between universities and their students regarding student debt and fees. CPUT has the highest student debt of all universities, totalling R4.2-billion in May 2026, and has withheld about 16,200 certificates from students in arrears. The protests are a manifestation of the frustration and desperation felt by students who are struggling to pay their fees.

The legal context is that CPUT's draft financial recovery plan is likely to be subject to scrutiny under the Higher Education Act, which requires universities to ensure that student debt does not exceed 15% of total revenue. The protests also raise questions about the role of Parliament in regulating university finances and ensuring that students' rights are protected.

The key parties involved are CPUT, the students protesting against the draft financial recovery plan, and the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, which has been called upon to intervene in the crisis. Practitioners should monitor this development closely as it may have implications for the regulation of university finances and student debt in South Africa.