“Some students are allowed to have visitors while others have opted to go home,” said Luntu Jacobs*, a Vaal University of Technology (VUT) final year student.

He is among 15 students who are in isolation in a residence at the university’s main campus in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng after their lecturer tested positive for Covid-19 coronavirus.

Jacobs told City Press on Friday that they were bussed in to the “quarantine residence” by management from various residences.

However, Jacobs said some students had decided to go home because of the unhygienic conditions inside the facility.

“There has not been proper cleaning and we don’t know who is positive or who is not because we have all not been tested. It is quite scary. Someone who I trust and love might be infected,” Jacobs said.

VUT spokesperson Mike Khuboni denied that the facility was a quarantine residence saying it was a dedicated isolation site and that it was kept clean.

“These claims are baseless and devoid of truth. The dedicated university residence where our students are accommodated has just recently been renovated and is cleaned by our cleaning staff,” Khuboni said.

But City Press has seen complaints of students directed to management.

There has not been proper cleaning and we don’t know who is positive or who is not because we have all not been tested. It is quite scary. Someone who I trust and love might be infected

In one text message, a student wrote: “I’m a fashion student in VUT and currently being quarantined in main res … I’m raising a concern and a cry to the kind of service we had to experience during our quarantine period.

“I don’t think VUT was ever ready for us and it’s painful we have to sleep and wake up in [unhygienic] area like dirty toilets and showers … We aren’t considered as priority by the VUT management. It’s so heartbreaking and a helpless [situation] … I feel our rights are also being violated.”

Another student said her family was unhappy with the conditions at the “quarantine” residence. “This shows that VUT isn’t ready for this quarantine situation! Everything is so dusty and dirty! There are no cleaners! There is nothing here! How can they quarantine us in such a bad condition? Dust is everywhere!

“I started with cleaning up the mess in the room! Curtains are so dirty! VUT really don’t care about our safety and health especially during this time of the pandemic. Covid-19 needs good hygiene, healthy food, clean water, warm/hot water,” she wrote.

City Press has also seen communication sent by a VUT worker confirming issues raised by students and indicating that their colleague had died.

“Condolences to the whole residence family for the loss of your long-time colleague fondly known as Tata. I am receiving numerous emails from students regarding the state of residences on campus especially where kids are quarantined. They fear for their health because of the unhygienic place they are kept at.

“They are threatening to go to the media and have sent pictures. Not sure what can be done to remedy the situation,” reads the email in part.

Khuboni said management had ensured that students were provided with three meals a day with adequate amounts of Vitamin C, zinc, carbohydrates, proteins and iron.

“Isolated students and staff undergo daily screening, including close monitoring of their temperatures, and they are offered free voluntary counselling,” he said.

Jacobs, however, maintained that they were not screened or tested.

He said when they went outside the facility, other students treated them as if they had Covid-19. “We are treated as if we are confirmed cases [of Covid-19]. This thing of being treated as if siyagula [we are sick] must stop. But, again we have not been tested.”

These students are currently accommodated in the dedicated university isolation residence. The remaining 33 students of this group are not in university residences but are locals residing in the surrounding area

When City Press arrived at the facility around 5.30pm on Wednesday, students could be seen freely entering and exiting.

When a security guard asked one of them where she was going, the student replied: “To the spaza shop to get food.”

City Press also witnessed students living in a nearby residence not maintaining social distancing. Others were kissing and holding hands.

One student said life was tough on campus. “It’s a matter of life and death but my fellow students don’t care. Some students act as if Covid-19 doesn’t exist,” the student said.

Khuboni confirmed that a worker had died, and students were isolated after their lecturer tested positive for Covid-19. He said 48 students had come into contact with the lecturer.

“The university acted swiftly and took precautionary measures to isolate 15 of the students though they were showing no signs or symptoms of the virus.

“These students are currently accommodated in the dedicated university isolation residence. The remaining 33 students of this group are not in university residences but are locals residing in the surrounding area. They are currently in isolation at home. None of these students are showing any symptoms or signs of illness. It was incumbent on the university to take these precautionary measures,” he said.

* Not his real name

This article first appeared on News24