The Cape Peninsula University of Technology ended its second semester on Friday, 5 September 2026, after weeks of student protests over fees, accommodation costs, and institutional governance forced the suspension of lectures and disrupted the academic calendar across its campuses. The university’s senate resolved that students would return on 14 September 2026 and that the academic year would be extended to 14 December 2026 to recover lost teaching time.
Trouble escalated on 11 August 2026 when CPUT halted lectures as students protested over financial and governance issues, according to GroundUp, which first reported the semester’s end. A day later, on 12 August, a violent protest at the Bellville campus drew roughly 1,700 people, according to police cited by IOL’s Cape Times, and a building was set alight.
Two men aged 19 and 21 were arrested for public violence following the Bellville protest, according to police. IOL reported that the protests caused an estimated R400,000 in damage to university property and infrastructure, a figure cited by CPUT.
The unrest was triggered partly by CPUT’s draft 2027 Financial Recovery Plan, which would have required some students not funded by NSFAS to pay up to R7,000 to register for the new academic year, as reported by EWN. On 13 August, CPUT’s Council withdrew the plan.
In a Special Sitting of our Council yesterday evening, a decision was taken to withdraw the Draft Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) for 2027, so that further consultation can happen.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley confirmed the withdrawal to EWN. The university suspended lectures on 18 August and told students to vacate residences within 24 hours, though GroundUp reported most students stayed put.
The Student Representative Council has alleged that about R304-million of a R565-million public infrastructure grant cannot be accounted for in buildings, a claim reported by GroundUp. CPUT disputes the allegation and has defended its financial administration.
The biggest portion of these funds is allocated to two student residences to be built on Bellville and District Six campuses. The two projects collectively account for R274-million.
Kansley told GroundUp that the funds were tightly administered. She added that any investigation by the SIU, SAPS, Public Protector, or Hawks would confirm proper oversight.
It is not true that the matters were closed with no investigation. In fact the contrary is true.
The SRC’s claim about missing infrastructure funds remains an allegation and has not been independently verified by official records or another authoritative source. Students have also called for vice-chancellor Chris Nhlapo to resign, but this is a demand rather than a verified factual claim.
Cape Flats News journalist Nadia Jacobs confirmed the Bellville campus timeline independently on Friday. What remains unclear is whether CPUT will produce a revised financial plan before the 14 September return date and whether further protests are expected when students resume classes.
We will check with CPUT and the SRC on Monday, 8 September for any developments ahead of the scheduled return.