Wits Students face poor treatment in private accommodation

Students at The Verge 2 residence in Braamfontein have been facing unbearable living conditions due to what they describe as gross negligence by management. For weeks, they have endured prolonged power outages, forcing them to live without hot water, refrigeration, and adequate security.

Despite the severity of the situation, management has failed to provide meaningful solutions, offering students a meal of kotas as a dismissive gesture rather than addressing the root problem. In response, students, backed by the EFFYC, began protesting to demand immediate restoration of stable electricity and dignified living conditions

Instead of engaging with students and resolving their concerns, Bornfree Management, hich oversees The Verge, responded with eviction threats. A notice issued by management warned students that protesting violated house rules and constituted a breach of their lease agreements. The letter stated that failure to cease protesting would result in immediate eviction. This move has been widely condemned as an attempt to silence students through intimidation rather than addressing their grievances.

Student organisations have denounced these threats, arguing that they infringe on students’ constitutional right to protest. The EFFYC, in particular, has called out the accommodation provider for using scare tactics instead of prioritising students’ well being. They have emanded that Bornfree Management withdraw its eviction threats and engage with students in good faith

The situation highlights broader concerns about student accommodation in South Africa, where private providers often prioritize profit over student welfare. Many students, especially those reliant on NSFAS funding, find themselves trapped in housing arrangements where they have little power to demand better conditions. The crisis at The Verge has now evolved from a protest about electricity and safety into a larger fight against the exploitation and mistreatment of students.

With the hashtag #AccommodationIsLand gaining traction, the movement is drawing attention to the urgent need for better regulation of student housing. Activists argue that institutions and government bodies must step in to ensure that private residences meet acceptable living standards and that students are not victimised for advocating for their rights