UWC expands student accommodation capacity to tackle housing crisis

Officials cut the ribbon at a new student residence at the University of the Western Cape, part of an expansion that has increased on-campus accommodation capacity ahead of the 2026 academic year. While students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology continue to face uncertainty over residence placements, the University of the Western Cape has announced a major expansion of its student accommodation capacity for the 2026 academic year. UWC confirmed it has added 5 120 new bed spaces this year, bringing its total accommodation capacity to 16 147 beds — enough to house about 76% of its current student enrolment.

The expansion comes amid a well-documented national student housing crisis, with demand for university-managed accommodation far exceeding supply at many public institutions. The contrast is stark as CPUT students have raised concerns about delays and uncertainty around residence placement, with accommodation remaining a key source of stress for students and their families as the academic year gets under way. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, only a limited proportion of students at public universities across South Africa are able to access institutionally managed accommodation, leaving many to seek alternatives in an increasingly expensive private rental market.

Against this backdrop, UWC said it had taken deliberate steps to strengthen its residence system. In 2025, the university had just over 5 000 bed spaces in university-owned and leased facilities, supported by a similar number of private accommodation beds accessible to students. Despite this, demand continued to outstrip supply, particularly among first-year and postgraduate students.

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“The 5 120-bed increase is unprecedented for the University of the Western Cape. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Residential Services team, who have worked tirelessly with our partners over the last several months,” said Prof Matete Madiba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support.

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