The university’s Robert Sobukwe block is plagued by leaks, mould, broken windows, and water damage.
A downpour of rain has exposed the cracks in the facade of one of Wits University’s oldest buildings. Robert Sobukwe Block (formerly Central Block) is the heart of Wits and in many ways the face of the university.
It is also home to the university’s humanities faculty, the largest faculty by enrolment. Despite this importance, the building is in disrepair and disarray.
“[It] feels like a prison, or one of those scary boarding schools we see in movies,” says International Relations Honours student Neo Moliea. The building has long suffered from water damage due to unfixed leaks.
On March 8, 2024, Wits Vuvuzela observed rainwater dripping from the roof onto stairwells and seeping through decaying windows onto the floor. Walls throughout the building show extensive water damage, with peeling paint and exposed plaster.

Many of the windows in Robert Sobukwe block are shattered, and the windowpanes are often rotting. The buildings’ walls are spotted with mould, often concealed in darkness as lights randomly stop working.
To some students, Robert Sobukwe block does not reflect the Wits they were sold on. “For the Wits centenary celebration, they spent a lot of money on decorating,” says law student Talia Krishnan, “[but] some of their facilities are just not working.”
Students and tutors see issues inside classrooms too. International Relations Honours student, Kea Maphila says the plug points in classrooms throughout the building malfunction, making her wary of using them in case they blow and surge her laptop. As a tutor, this affects her ability to teach students and is an inconvenience no student needs.

These issues compromise the integrity of the building, but also show a lack of interest in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for students.
It may be a historic building, but students feel this does not mean it should not be renovated. “I am really against preserving history if it looks and feels so old and cold,” Moliea says.
Wits’ Property and Infrastructure Management Division (PIMD) logged a fault when questioned by Wits Vuvuzela but seemed unaware of the latest flooding incident.
FEATURED IMAGE: A smashed window in Robert Sobukwe Block overlooking the East wing of the building. Photo: Ruby Delahunt.
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