CPUT continues its mission to provide one of the most state-of-the-art campus housing offerings in the country.

The university is leading the way in setting a standard of excellence in residence management, and our students are the welcome beneficiaries of the new changes.

Last year ended on a high note with the institution celebrating the completion of the Cape Suites Residence Project. This project will see 400 beds go online and will provide female students with a living and learning environment in one of the most state-of-the-art campus housing offerings in the country. Cape Suites is a few metres from the District Six campus and provides safe and comfortable accommodation to some of our most vulnerable students.

Understanding the sustainability aspects of the university’s properties, the focus in 2024 was on quality enhancement to ensure that CPUT-owned residences remain attractive to our clientele, according to Phillip Chibvuri, Residence Finance Specialist.

This focus area is key for sustenance and the institution invested in the following:

 The Residences Facelift Project

This is an on-going project which focuses on the look and feel of each residence

“We are exploring the benefits of well-designed underutilised areas in each residence and bring them alive as research has shown the interior design of places and productivity are closely linked,” said Chibvuri

Operational Equipment

The Housing team has enhanced a number of residences with brand new microwaves, fridges, smart televisions and stoves.

A new batch of 100 laundry machines is in the pipeline to ensure that malfunctioning machines do not affect utilities such as water and electricity.

All heat pump systems received the necessary attention to ensure hot water in all 26 CPUT-owned residences.

Security

All 26 residences have been set onto the SALTO system, which is fully compatible with local technologies at CPUT.

In addition, the replacement and reconfiguration of all turnstiles at all residences are underway with some already fully functional

“We now have over 200 cameras for the exterior areas installed at strategic angles, functional, and monitored. More are underway in terms of interior and special areas of control in 2025. A facial recognition system (SAMS Project) has been piloted and the results are encouraging, and Campus Protection Services and Housing are working on a sustainable roll out plan in 2025.”

Chibvuri added: “We are optimistic we are going in a particular direction which will require thrifty approaches, sustainable solutions, and forward-thinking”.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Thousands of soccer fans are expected to descend on CPUT residences during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

CPUT recently became one of the first higher education institutions to sign a deal with Madlanduna Corporation, which will see student residences converted into temporary accommodation for international soccer fans.

Madlanduna Corporation, a Gauteng based service and investment company, is involved in sourcing affordable accommodation for the 2010 World Cup.

They are in the process of entering into similar agreements with several other South African tertiary institutions.

Temporary accommodation will ensure that soccer fans who cannot afford the high cost of hotels will have access to affordable and comfortable accommodation, in close proximity of the various stadiums.

Johhny Basson, the institution’s Residence Business Manager said: “CPUT's residences are strategically placed in order to house thousands of soccer fans.”

According to the agreement, 2 501 beds in residences across the province will be made available during the event.

Of this total, 1 368 beds will be made available at Bellville Campus, 581 beds at the Cape Town campus and 522 beds at the picturesque Wellington campus.

Basson said while CPUT stands to benefit financially from the agreement, there are many other spin-offs.

“Madlanduna is marketing the residences internationally and in that way CPUT will gain international exposure,” he said.

This agreement will also provide substantial opportunities for other businesses as the institution will require the services of additional security, cleaning and catering companies.

Basson said the institution has been approached by other agencies who would also like to enter into similar agreements.

One of these agencies is MATCH, who is also involved in sourcing affordable accommodation on a national level

Basson said: “We are proud to be part of this event and excited that we, as CPUT can contribute in this way to this prestige event.”

Mthuzi Luthuli, Director of Madlanduna Corporation commended the institution for its “visionary vision” with regards to this venture.

Madlanduna Corporation began negotiations several years ago, with the then Peninsula Technikon.

Mthuzi said the institution will be required to avail the rooms and the institutions facilities for 25 days in June 2010.

Madlanduna Corporation will be responsible for marketing the accommodation and all other arrangements, such as reservations of rooms and transport to the stadiums on match days.

“We are also looking at utilising students at an operational level,” he said.

Mthuzi said they would like to offer CPUT students involved in sport management, events, tourism and hospitality the opportunity to work with international tourists.

He said they are looking at employing students to man tourist desks at the institution and assist with the checking in of tourists.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Residence Finance Specialist Phillip Chibvuri has been appointed to serve as the joint treasurer on the executive board of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International Southern Africa Chapter (Acuho-I SAC).

The Association has a global footprint and its core purpose is to advance the campus housing profession in service of students.

Chibvuri, who started working at CPUT in 2014, is experienced in the areas of university accommodation, services and finance as well as risk administration.

He has developed a number of strategies and models in direct response to student accommodation matters.

“I am truly humbled by this opportunity to lead and contribute to the regional and world stage and will at level best be an ambassador and serve diligently. The living and learning environment and university experience is an area that university brands may need to accelerate on. The behaviour, institutional culture and academic prowess of students to some extent are influenced by the services and client experience,’’ says Chibvuri.

He will drive issues around all universities in the SADC region and liaise with global universities on a wide range of student living and learning on campuses.

Chibvuri is also working on a project researching the issues around student accommodation, the needs, shortfalls, financing, operational sustainable strategies and the impact of residence experiences on graduates in waiting.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A range of major infrastructure projects, including a state-of-the-art student residence, are under construction on CPUT’s campuses.

According to the Infrastructure Development and Facilities Management Department, the residence on the Navarre Residence site of the Wellington campus, will have 212 beds and is expected to be completed in September next year.

Student accommodation is set to receive a further boost with the refurbishment of the St Peters Student Residence in Observatory expected to be finalised by month-end.

In addition, the restoration of Greenoaks in the Elizabeth Women’s Residence Complex is nearing completion.

The safety of staff and students are a top priority for the institution and the installation of access control and CCTV systems on all campuses is expected to be completed by the end of April next year.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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One of CPUT’s core values is ubuntu, and the drive to supply food to needy students expresses this.

Hundreds of needy students at CPUT residences are benefitting from food parcels, thanks to the Feed a Needy Student Project, a collaborative project between the university, residence managers and Residence Student Assistants.

In April food parcels were distributed at Down Town Lodge (DTL) and J&B houses. Chumani Mashwanyela, a Residence Manager at the two houses and the Project’s Co-ordinator, expressed a word of gratitude for the kind gestures shown by Sam's Driving Academy, Make It Happen Eatery and other individual donors.

In May food parcels were delivered at various CPUT residences in Cape Town on several occasions. On one occasion a local Non-Governmental Organisation donated the food supplies while on other occasions the university made the donations to the students after screening them for need.

“We would like to express our deepest and humble gratitude to Embrace Dignity for donating 124 food parcels,” said Mashwanyela. “We managed to distribute 50 parcels at DTL and J&B, 20 at City Edge, ten at Elizabeth Women’s Residence, five at President House, 15 at Plein, ten at Hanover, ten at Sandernburgh and through phone calls made by students we delivered four at NMJ.”

Embrace Dignity is a South African human rights advocacy organisation that strives for the realisation of gender equality and wants to abolish the system of prostitution.

“The food parcels were distributed at the different residences and the major recipients were female students and they appreciated the assistance provided by the project’s leaders and donors,” he continued.

Mashwanyela added that about 400 students have benefited from the project.

 “As a residence manager, I am glad that we all realize the need to assist our students who suffer in dark little corners because of hunger. As the CPUT community we ought to come with collective and more rigorous efforts in combating hunger within our student populace.”

To give advice or donate to the project one may contact Mashwanyela via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0735158591.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Residence Business Unit is continuing its drive to improve residential services to students within the bounds of lockdown protocols.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on plans for 2020, the Residence Management team says it remains dedicated to providing excellent service and enhance the image of CPUT residences.

The Residence Business Unit’s Phillip Chibvuri said some of the projects currently in progress are:

• The replacement of beds and mattresses, which began in late 2018. To date, CPUT has replaced almost 60% of beds and mattresses. The next batch of 1 000 is expected between July and December and speeds up the roll-out of the three- year planned project.
• Since the start of this project in 2018, more than 3 000 leased beds have been added to the residence system seeing the university accommodating 38% of its total student population compared to 29% in 2019.  The target by 2021 is 40% and with the current pandemic, CPUT is assessing the appetite as the impact of Covid-19 may change demand and supply trends.
• The recently refurbished Freedom Square will see a revamp and replacement of all its student rooms study chairs while a first of its kind wall mounted foldable desk for space management will be installed in the second semester.

Residence Business Manager Johnny Basson said: “We are on a path to creating sustainable systems and enhance the image of CPUT residences and our living and learning spaces. The task requires embedding a culture of sustenance, cost outlook, preservation of infrastructure and behaviour from both students and the immediate staff. We are striving to rebrand the CPUT residences and its systems to provide a conducive environment for stimulating ideas and have these spaces be a hub for growth in many disciplines of our future graduates as is the purpose of an institution of higher learning”.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Accommodation service providers are lending a helping hand to students remaining in leased residences by providing them with food parcels.

South Point, one of the biggest providers, has collaborated with the Gift of the Givers Foundation to secure food parcels for students who remain in South Point buildings during the national lockdown. This includes students who are self-funded as well as students who receive NSFAS or other funding and in addition to a food parcel drive initiated by the Department of Student Affairs.

Another large service provider, Park Central, has been offering students in its various buildings food parcels since the early days of the lockdown.   A weekly parcel is given to replenish students’ supplies.

More leased accommodation service providers are pledging to come on board and assist students.

 “We are grateful for the selfless work being done by our service providers, which goes a long way in ensuring students’ needs are met. They are displaying a huge measure of corporate responsibility which we welcome and encourage such gestures to continue post this period as we all have a common goal to serve our clients, (the students) in both good and bad times, “said Phillip Chibvuri, residence finance specialist in the Business Unit.

The Business Unit will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure students receive the necessary support in all spheres of operations. One of the service providers, Student Junction, is scheduled to start providing aid to students in their buildings from today (April 30). 

“More discussions are underway to negotiate business terms with these accommodation providers to reach mutual grounds post the lockdown as new risks will emerge and financial impacts will be felt. We are pleased all our service providers are willing to come to the table to craft and draft ways to reduce any adversities," added Johnny Basson, the business manager in the Business Unit.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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District Six staff members and students can now boost their health and fitness levels at the new Outdoor Gym on the campus.

The new facility, situated at corner of Constitution and Tennant streets boasts eleven pieces of equipment and is the second one of its kind at CPUT.

The outdoor gym park at the Bellville campus opened last year and plans are afoot to roll out the project at the Mowbray and Wellington campuses.

According to the Residence Business Unit, which has been managing the project, outdoor gym sessions and a boot camp series will soon resume at the Bellville campus. The District Six gym will also have professional trainers on site on Mondays to Thursdays from 4 pm to 6 pm. The starting dates will be announced soon and these sessions will be free of charge for staff and students.
The unit hopes that the project will provide a spot where staff and students can enjoy the benefits of an outdoor gym like at many other university campuses around the world.

“We have looked into the benefits of the project and we are confident it will bring a much needed service within our living and learning spaces. We believe a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and this is important as we strive to be the innovation centre of Africa through our One Smart CPUT drive," said Johnny Basson, Manager of the Residence Business Unit.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Following the official closing of the highly enriching CPUT Online Residence Registration pilot project recently, the project manager Liezel Ijambo celebrated her team which has gone as far as most did not imagine.

The Online Residence Project Team successfully closed the first phase in the Online Residence Registration project at a meeting held recently. Ijambo said: “The project successfully delivered in terms of the scope, budget, and timeline. The sample of 25% of returning residence students initially identified in the project for the go-live was also extended to attract all returning residence students and reached numbers beyond the anticipated 25%.”

The Online Residence Registration system went live on 13 January 2020 during the 2020 Academic Registration process for returning residence students. Clarifying the project, CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the process allowed for students who had no academic or financial blocks to register online and then received confirmation of their room and residence automatically. “This has drastically cut queues and the demand on staff in the Student Housing Department. While we still experience some queues at this department this is mostly for students who have unique issues,” continued Kansley.

This year, CPUT will have 12 460 beds for housing students. A third of this is designated for the first years. CPUT has brought an additional 3 065 beds this year to meet the demand for residence placements. “This means we are well on track to meet our target of having 40% of our student body in residence accommodation. For safety reasons, first years will be accommodated close to campus and for the most part will be housed in gender-specific residences,” she added. Meanwhile, Ijambo announced that the next phase in the project is the Online Residence Application process which will go-live during the May 2020 Academic Admission cycle.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT has secured more than 3 000 additional beds which will significantly alleviate the growing demand for student accommodation.

The addition means that in 2020 about 38 percent of the student population can be accommodated, a notable increase from 29 percent in 2019.

“In 2019 the secured beds available to the university was 9395 beds. For 2020 we have pushed up the numbers to 12 460 beds.  The institutional target is to get to a 40 percent ratio by 2021. The business unit will continue to work towards this target,” said Phillip Chibvuri, Residence Finance Specialist in the Residence Business Unit.

“We will also continue with our huge drive in maintaining our old residences and refurbishing them, where possible. It has been a challenging journey to get to where we are now and we trust that CPUT students recognise the efforts of University management in addressing accommodation issues. We will continue to strive to provide the best student life and residential service to our students,” said Chibvuri.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The CPUT Residence Business & Risk Assessment Centre has launched an on-line accreditation system which will refine the process of sourcing suitable student accommodation.

Called Off-Campus Housing Accreditation Program (OCHAP) the accreditation system offers students the opportunity to find private CPUT-accredited alternative accommodation and allows property owners to apply electronically.

CPUT officials will then inspect the particular building and if approved may be accredited.

Each landlord wishing to be accredited has to apply online via the Residences webpage and an automated response will be sent to the applicant as well as alerts to the OCHAP.

In order to be an accredited student accommodation facility the landlord must complete the forms and documents confirming compliance with CPUT regulations must be submitted.

Details of the property will only appear on our website once it has been accredited and the once-off administration fee has been paid.

Proof of ownership or mandate to lease, has to be submitted once you receive feedback on your application.

Each advert has a span of three months on the CPUT website. Once full occupancy is reached the landlord must inform the OCHAP office via email in order for your advert to be retracted from the website.

The database on line is updated regularly to provide students with information of availability of beds, see here

Lease agreements between students and landlords must be for at least six months.

For more info on OCHAP contact the Residence Business & Risk Assessment Centre’s Off-Campus Housing & Accreditation Office on the Bellville Campus on 021 959 6154 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Written by Kwanele Butana

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The shortage of affordable accommodation close to campuses has long been an issue for universities across South Africa and CPUT continues to seek innovative solutions to help address the need.

The institution recently met with DigsConnect, an online platform that aims to help students find safe accommodation close to their institutions.

“We’re thrilled to be working with tech start-up DigsConnect.com, South Africa’s largest student accommodation marketplace. It allows landlords and agents across the accommodation spectrum to list their student properties, and for students to then connect with the landlords directly,” says Phillip Chibvuri from CPUT’s Residence Business Unit.

“At CPUT we pride ourselves on innovation and taking practical action to solve inefficiencies in our society. Part of this commitment includes working with exciting start-ups that are changing the way that we do things. We are exploring a more vibrant relationship with DigsConnect in the year 2019 to spread our own accredited properties on their website.”

CPUT’s own Off-Campus Housing Accreditation Program (OCHAP) was launched in 2017 and allows students to search for private accommodation, which has been approved and accredited by CPUT officials.

To visit the database, go to http://www.cput.ac.za/students/life/accommodation/ochap/properties

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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An exciting project is underway to revamp student residences, ensuring a client-centric approach with a focus on enhancing living and learning spaces.

The project, led by the Residence Department’s Javern Zondagh and co-driven by finance specialist Phillip Chibvuri, is designed to beautify learning spaces with simple yet impactful improvements. Rather than relying on capital-intensive renovations, the project emphasises the smart use of existing spaces, incorporating exterior design, landscaping, and interior design to create a more modern, inviting atmosphere.

“We need to be able to be very comfortable to take anyone, especially the parents when they come see or visit their loved ones, into our facilities and ensure we are creating very conducive environments in and around our facilities,” said Zondagh.

“We are starting small but these baby steps are being welcomed and appreciated already.”

The project, which is being rolled out in phases, will start with six of CPUT’s 26 university-owned residences in 2024, with plans to expand the initiative into 2025 and beyond. The improvements are part of an ongoing effort to enhance the living spaces without a major financial burden.

Chibvuri said: “Such projects bring in a different energy to our spaces at a very low cost and it is amazing what a well thought out design can do with a space, the people living in and around it and the often spoken about look and feel aspects.

“We are very adamant that with the right attitude and approach to our owned facilities, we can easily flip the coin and show what our infrastructure can do and sometimes it is not about the funds but the intentional approach to spaces, the diligence and insight when tackling projects.”

A key aspect of the project is the collaboration between various internal stakeholders, including the Division of Student Affairs, Garden Services, Facilities, Finance, and academia. This multidisciplinary effort ensures that all aspects of student living are taken into account, from aesthetics to functionality.

The phased approach will gradually cover more residences, with the ultimate goal of creating attractive and productive environments across all CPUT-owned buildings. As the project moves forward, the positive impact is already being felt by students, and both Zondagh and Chibvuri are optimistic about the future.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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