ALICE, Eastern Cape — The escalating University of Fort Hare student protests have forced the suspension of all academic activities at the institution’s Alice campus, as learners demand an urgent action plan to address rapidly deteriorating conditions in their residences.
Students, who pay upwards of R58,000 annually for on-campus accommodation, are enduring rooms without windows, lights, or heaters during the harsh winter season. According to Alice Campus SRC Premier Someleze Ndamase, the crisis is pervasive and affects all 52 residences situated within the campus premises.
“No other residence is better than the other; each and every residence suffers,” Ndamase stated, detailing a widespread failure of basic amenities. The SRC Premier listed systemic issues including leaking roofs, broken windows, faulty door locks, non-functioning stoves, cold showers, and severe sewage problems, which have collectively compromised student safety and well-being.
The current shutdown is the culmination of long-standing grievances rather than an isolated incident. Ndamase emphasized that the Student Representative Council (SRC) possesses a comprehensive paper trail proving university management was repeatedly put on notice. Over the past four years, the SRC has submitted formal memorandums, sent multiple emails, and held monthly meetings with the maintenance, properties, and services departments, as well as the Vice-Chancellor’s office. Despite producing actionable maintenance plans, Ndamase claims implementation has continually stalled, prompting students to bypass boardroom discussions and take direct action.
Tensions peaked following a student march on August 10, when learners attempted to deliver a memorandum of demands to the university’s Management Committee. Ndamase alleged that the Executive Director of Infrastructure ignored the gathering and drove away without receiving the document. The memorandum was ultimately handed to the Director of Properties and Services.
While the Vice-Chancellor later addressed the students and acknowledged the severe infrastructure deficits, the proposed timelines for repairs were deemed unacceptably distant by the student body, particularly given the winter conditions and the security risks posed by broken locks. Management has, however, promised that some service delivery interventions will take place over the weekend.
This is not the first time the Alice campus has faced academic disruptions over welfare issues. Previous protests in February regarding allowances and accommodation, as well as severe unrest involving arson attacks last October, resulted in management concessions that supposedly included residence maintenance. Ndamase argues these past commitments were entirely ignored.
He attributes the systemic failure to institutional negligence and severe understaffing, noting reports that the entire campus of 52 residences relies on just one dedicated electrician and one plumber to handle all infrastructure-related emergencies. As classes remain suspended, students continue to hold the line, demanding that the university finally honor its maintenance obligations.