Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim is set to visit the University of Fort Hare’s KuGompo City Campus on Monday, 5 October 2026, in response to ongoing concerns about student safety and living conditions. The visit aims to assess student residences, including accredited and leased housing, following complaints received through the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Training emphasised that Cassim’s delegated responsibilities include student accommodation, housing delivery, wellbeing, and safety within the post-school education and training (PSET) sector. “These responsibilities require the Deputy Minister to engage directly with students where they study and live, assess the challenges they face and work with the university and relevant entities to agree on practical remedial actions and clear timeframes,” the department said in a statement.
Officials from the Department’s University Education Branch and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will accompany Cassim during the oversight visit.
Independent reporting by EWN highlighted that student concerns centre on safety, crime, inadequate maintenance of residences, poor heating, and insufficient study facilities. These issues have fuelled recent unrest on campus, with students reportedly shutting down parts of the university over deteriorating residence conditions.
SAnews also reported that the university suffered violent protests causing damage estimated between R300 million and R500 million, which disrupted academic programmes. Minister Buti Manamela has stated the government’s priority is to restore safety and ensure academic activities resume within the next week. He described the recent unrest not as protest but as criminal acts.
The visit by Deputy Minister Cassim forms part of the department’s broader effort to stabilise conditions at Fort Hare, restore student confidence, and address urgent accommodation and safety concerns raised by students on the campus.
It remains unconfirmed if any reporters or stringers will be present at the KuGompo City Campus during the visit or if there are logged tips from community policing forums or ward councillors specific to this story. CapeFlats.co.za will monitor developments and provide updates on any outcomes from the oversight visit.