Higher Education Dept establishes committee to assess student accommodation challenges
This assessment follows the fatal shooting of a young man who was killed during a demonstration against the deplorable state of accommodation at the Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus.
A protest at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU). Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Higher Education and Training has established a steering committee to assess accommodation challenges across all institutions in the country.
This assessment follows the fatal shooting of a young man who was killed during a demonstration against the deplorable state of accommodation at the Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus.
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The incident sparked outrage within the student community, with some demonstrations held at the campus after the shooting.
Director-general of the Department of Higher Education Nkosinathi Sishi said they are working to ensure that institutions improve their security and accommodation standards.
“This is a public matter which we are working together with. The minister wrote an instruction to all institutions that we established a steering committee that looks into the accommodation situation and the prioritisation of first-year and undergraduate students in the institutions, in terms of accommodation available.”