14/04/2026
CUT Welkom Students Rise as Management Turns a Deaf Ear
How Long Must CUT Welkom Students Beg to Be Heard?
On Monday, 13 April 2026, students of the Central University of Technology (CUT) Welkom Campus embarked on a protest following years of unresolved grievances and ongoing neglect by campus and institutional management. The demonstration, now entering its second day, comes after repeated written engagements by student representatives that have been met with silence, delays, and what these affected students describe as arrogance at the highest levels of management.
According to these consent students , the protest was not spontaneous. For months, and in some cases years, the Student Representative Council (SRC) and other student formations have formally written to management raising critical concerns that directly affect students’ ability to study, live, and survive with dignity.
One of the key grievances remains the issue of non-accredited accommodation rental payments. Students insist that management is aware that Welkom Campus still faces a serious shortage of student beds. Another major issue is the failure to insource cleaning and security staff.
Despite assurances made during the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee visit in 2025, students say infrastructure at Welkom Campus remains neglected. Campus residences are reportedly in poor condition, with two student residences requiring urgent maintenance.
Sports facilities—including football, cricket, netball, and basketball grounds—are also said to be dilapidated, depriving students of holistic campus life and wellness opportunities.
“Empty Promises, Empty Stomachs: CUT Welkom Students Take a Stand”
A proposal for food parcels for unfunded students was agreed upon by both management and the SRC. However, since the start of the academic year, students say nothing has materialised, forcing many to attend classes on empty stomachs.
The state of student health services remains deeply concerning. The campus clinic is reportedly understocked with medication and suffers from a shortage of doctors, nurses, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals
A Clarion call
ZA Student News calls on students across South Africa to stand in solidarity with CUT Welkom students. This struggle is not isolated—it reflects a broader crisis of inequality, neglect, and exclusion within higher education institutions.
When students are forced to protest for beds, food, healthcare, and voice, the system has failed them.
