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Shattered windows, faulty roofing and broken doors have seized being the feature of WSU Potsdam Site student residences following the university’s expenditure of over R24 million to refurbish and restore the structures.
As students prepare to move into their new quarters, the university has just completed the finishing touches to the almost year-long refurbishment project aimed at providing a healthy, clean and conducive environment in which students can learn, play and ultimately add to and build their character.
“Today is a momentous day in the advancement of the struggle to better the student experience for our constituents. This handover signals the departure from underwhelming living conditions that students have been subjected to, to the embracing of adequate and appropriate conditions worthy of the dignity of a human being,” said BCC SRC Secretary Vuyo Langeni.
Langeni urged the University to expand and deepen these interventions – central to which is the establishment of a solid and workable maintenance plan; effective and continued monitoring and evaluation strategy; introduction of programmes aimed at triggering responsibility and sense of ownership within the occupants; continued modernisation to keep up with fast technological evolution; as well as effective prevention and consequence management rules and regulations.
A visibly excited Prof Nosisi Feza, rector of the Buffalo City Campus, didn’t mince her words regarding consequence management that should be meted out against those who vandalize university property.
Addressing the SRC Secretary-General (SG) in front of a small group, referencing the state of the “new” residence which stands opposite the “old” residence, Feza was at pains to denounce and condemn the destruction she saw at the new property because of vandalism and destruction by students.
“At some point, “SG”, we need to work together as management and the SRC, as well as the greater student populous to isolate and reject vandals who can’t seem to obey the rules of the university. We need to develop a policy that speaks to how we rid ourselves of such negative elements because they’re costing our university millions which we don’t have,” she said.
Other issues facing residences across the university were also touched on, including the contentious issues of “squatting”, which results in the infrastructure carrying a load far beyond what the structure is designed to withstand.
WSU Manager for Infrastructure Projects Thandile Konjwa said the money was generated from the Infrastructure Efficiency Fund allocated by the Department of Higher Education and Training for the building, maintaining and refurbishment of residences.
Significant work has been done during the refurbishments, including full repainting of all walls, ceilings and balustrades; replacing of ceilings to all first-floor level bathroom ceilings; making repairs to floor and wall tile finishes; high-pressure cleaning of face brick/slabs; making repairs to concrete columns and paint; cleaning and repairing of existing roofs, inclusive of all gutters, downpipes and skylights; removing all existing bedroom steel windows, amongst other deliverables.
“We’re also working on significant projects which include minor refurbishments to the Ibika Campus student village; the Ibika campus student residence; the Zamukulungisa Student Residence; as well as refurbishments to the KGB and KTC student residences,” said Konjwa.
By Thando Cezula
