By Mapaballo Borotho
- Students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) have been left stranded after the university shut down all its campuses following an arson attack at the Bellville campus.
- Management says the escalating violence and attacks on university infrastructure have forced it to suspend academic activities, evacuate residences and move staff to remote work.
- The shutdown comes amid ongoing student protests over proposed financial clearance rules for 2027, which student leaders say could make higher education inaccessible to financially struggling students.
Students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) were left in limbo on Tuesday afternoon, 18 August 2026, following the shutdown of all its campuses.
The university shut down all its campuses this afternoon after a fire attack at one of its campuses. According to reports, the Bellville campus was set alight over proposed financial clearance rules and registration requirements for 2027.
On Tuesday, the university confirmed that fire officials had responded to the burning of the Old Education Building at the Bellville campus on Monday evening.
In a statement released by the university, no injuries were reported following the arson attack.
“While no one was injured in this latest arson attack, it is a grave concern that the level of violence is now escalating to a point where someone is likely to be seriously injured or worse,” management said.
Continued violent disruptions, torching of buildings, and malicious attacks on institutional infrastructure have forced university management to close all campuses until further notice and immediately evacuate the residences,” management said.
In the meantime, all academic activities have been suspended with immediate effect, while staff have been instructed to work remotely.
The university said only essential workers and selected support staff would be permitted on campus.
Students living in university residences have also been urged to vacate the premises within 24 hours.
There have been ongoing student protests at CPUT over the proposed financial clearance rules for 2027, which student leaders claim will make higher education inaccessible to thousands of financially struggling and underprivileged students.
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