Threestreamsmedia reports that students are struggling to find alternative accommodation since the North-West University management committee decided on Friday, 20 March, to close residences to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to Threestreamsmedia some local and international students might be allowed to stay if they have documented reasons.
The university said on its Coronavirus website that students will have until 24 March 2020 to vacate the residences.
An international student from Windhoek in Namibia, Immanuel Heita (23), a Bcom Hons in accountancy student, said, “Having to vacate the student residence with immediate effect means I must arrange transport, which can be costly for an international student. For me, March recess is usually time for revision of the first-semester work and to catch up with all the modules.”
Nosipho Koetetse (21), a BSc Hons in environmental science student, said, “It is inconvenient for me to go home during recess because I have research and I need to be on campus for my laboratory work. One of my lecturers advised me to stay in residence during recess because I am from Northern Cape and that is far, I wouldn’t make it to Potchefstroom every day.”
“It is totally bad news for us students who have to travel long distances to go back home,” Nelisiwe Bezana (23), a corporate communication senior student from the Eastern Cape said.
Louis Jacobs, director of corporate communication at NWU, said the university constantly has the safety and health of staff and students at heart. “Social proximity increases transmissions risks and the university does not have the human capacity to regulate social distancing or medical capacity to manage transmission and its consequences. High concentrations of people (in residences, PC labs, libraries, classrooms, graduations) increase risk and place the institution itself at risk,” said Jacobs.
The university advised all students who are unable to leave the residences to apply for permission to remain if they have documented reasons. There is an official form to complete.
International students who are unable to return to their countries due to closed borders may apply for permission to remain through the Global Engagement office.
