Students staying in private student accommodations in Braamfontein concerned by a series of suspicious power outages affecting their daily lives.
Although load-shedding has been suspended, there are still instances of power supply disruptions, frequently attributed to cable theft.
Recently, on May 1, 2024, City Power confirmed that a fire broke out at Fordsburg substation the previous night, due to suspected vandalism and cable theft.
According to City Power, cable theft at the Fordsburg substation not only started a fire, but burnt the cables linking it to the Braamfontein one. This caused a blackout for many areas in Braamfontein and Parktown. It was the third time City Power announced a power outage in Braamfontein, which resulted from cable theft in the month of April, with the area also experiencing unexplained power outages on April 1 as well April 9, 2024, respectively.
Despite this recent outage in May, in the previous month, South Point residents said that they have been solely experiencing power interruptions that have not been reported by City Power. This has caused outrage from students who believe South Point is being secretive about the cause of the interruptions. The students are also concerned about the frequency and how poorly prepared South Point is for them.
The most recent building to go through a power outage was 56 Jorissen, a South Point student accommodation situated across from the Wits Arts Museum. The outage occurred on April 24, and it lasted for three days. Tenants also experienced water issues alongside power outage.
South Point accommodation, 56 Jorissen, and Wits Arts Museum, Braamfontein. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa
A tenant at 56 Jorissen Omolemo Tsomele, a third year LLB student at Wits University, expressed his concerns regarding the frequent power outages. He criticized South Point’s lack of sufficient assistance with the matter, and said that they waited until the electricity returned to help the tenants with food, which was already too late as groceries were affected by the outage. Tsomele also cites 56 Jorissen’s lack of a backup generator was a problem as the outages occur frequently, adding that the generator that is in place only lights up the hallway and keeps the Wifi on.
Earlier in April, a similar experience occurred at another South Point building in 46 de Korte from the 8th of April to the 11th. Sibongiseni Lungani Daniel, a fourth-year Theatre and Performance student at Wits University is a tenant at this accommodation. He expressed that residents at the accommodation did not receive clear communication on the issue.
He claims that South Point only provided food on the third day of the power outage. He said he is unhappy with the minimal efforts that it makes in times of power crises, and he questions why City Power does not have cables readily available to replace the stolen cables, given that it is a recurring issue.
On April 26, 2024, The Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) published a statement on Instagram acknowledging the power outage at South Point 56; and stated they met with them that night before. In the same statement, it was said that the power had been restored and that the SRC were working with South Point management to distribute meals to those who were affected.
South Point was unavailable to comment on both instances. When asked about the specific power outages at South Point, City Power referred the publication to X, where they regularly give updates about outages.
FEATURED IMAGE: Braamfontein sign and switched off traffic light. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
South Point residence mum on an incident that took place at one of their parties, raising serious concerns about the management’s response to the safety and security of students.
It’s been a little over a month since an alarming incident unfolded at a Retro Block Party hosted by South Point, where students were stubbed while others had their phones stolen. However, management at the student residence has not made any headway in finding the culprits.
According to one of the witnesses, on the night of the party, April 28, 2023, intruders gained access to the party by paying an entrance fee like anyone else. The party was hosted in one of the South Point buildings, 87 Juta in Braamfontein.
While mingling and dancing, students suddenly heard screams and saw cell phones being stolen. The security officer was called, and the suspected intruders were removed from the party. Angry victims then followed them outside to try fight for their belongings.
What these partygoers did not know was that the intruders had additional team members waiting outside – a scuffle ensued, and some students were stabbed in the process.
The party is an annual event, and this year’s party was designed to commemorate South Point’s 20th anniversary, and it is reported to have begun at 17h00 in the evening.
Wits Vuvuzela spoke to workers at South Point about the incident, but they did not want to be named in fear of retribution from their employer.
“Yes, I heard about a boy who was stabbed, but I can’t say much about it because I don’t know what’s going on, and management doesn’t tell us anything,” said the worker.
Wits Vuvuzela contactedSouth Point manager Mahlodi Mathiba, who was not aware of the incident. “Unfortunately, I don’t know anything but let me refer you to the student liaising who should know”, the manager said.
The manager then referred us to the student liaising officer, Brenda Sambo who said she was aware of the situation but was uncertain about the facts. What the student liaising said is that “I don’t really know the story, the only thing I know is that students’ phones were stolen, and they ran after the suspects only to get stabbed”.
One of the witnesses, Ngwato Mashile (22), said they have been left traumatised by the incident. “I was hurt, it really affected me because those people aimed for sensitive parts without even looking where they were stabbing, and I thought the students were dead, and I’m still traumatized because the screams keep replaying in my head,” he said.
Mashile, like other witnesses and even the victims have thus far not received any kind of assistance from their landlord.
RELATED FEATURED: Outside the residence in question, 87 Juta. Photo: Patience Masalesa
The private student accommodation company is caught between the Unemployment Insurance Fund and workers stressed by the regulations to control the coronavirus pandemic.(more…)
NSFAS students
sign petition for university to reconsider decision.
The University of Johannesburg has rejected South Point’s
2019 accreditation application after the property company failed to fulfil
certain requirements by the university’s policy on privately-owned
accommodation.
The policy stipulates that, “Rooms should be furnished with lockable closets, single bed steel or wooden frames including mattress/sponge, study desk, chair, bookshelf, study lamp, panel heater and paper bin.”
The policy further states that the kitchen of each
‘Subscribing Service Provider’ should have “a minimum provision of cold
storage, 210 litres per five students”.
After the 2019 inspection, the two Braamfontein South Point
buildings (Norvic and KSI) previously accredited by U J since 2004 were deemed not
to meet the requirements due to the absence of panel heaters and fridges.
Executive Head of Precinct Development at South Point, Josef
Talotta, told Wits Vuvuzela that, “In
2011, [UJ] gazetted new norms and standard criteria (introducing communal
refrigerators and panel heaters) for its accreditation partners…we were not
accredited for 2019, in spite of previous approvals against the same criteria.”
Last year, South Point “housed approximately 450 students as
a UJ-accredited housing provider”, according to Talotta.
Some of those students circulated a petition last week to
have UJ reconsider its decision not to accredit South Point. By January 31, the
petition had garnered 90 signatures.
Mpho Stephen, a third-year LLB student who has been staying
at South Point for two years said, “I helped distribute the petition because we
want a place to stay. We are also trying to tell [UJ] our story. Everybody has
a right to be heard,” said Stephen.
UJ students who are funded by NSFAS say they are dismayed by
UJ’s decision as they did not have to pay for top-ups and a deposit at South
Point before signing their leases.
“I went to J1 (a private accommodation property in
Braamfontein) and there is space but…now I have to pay R3 750 for deposit.
Imagine the strain I have to put on my parents. I wouldn’t have to pay for
deposit at South Point while on NSFAS,” said Mpho Khosa, a third-year Film and
Television student at UJ.
South Point is appealing UJ’s decision, according to Talotta.
Student residents and the Wit’s Economic Freedom Fighters party marched from the University of the Witwatersrand to South Point Central to voice their dissatisfaction on Monday July 25.(more…)
Societal expectations and experiences can often place pressure on people’s relationships. With Valentine’s Day coming up we have asked individuals questions about their views on certain relationship dynamics especially when it comes to the most anticipated day of the year for some lovers, Valentines Day. Viewers shared their beliefs and Siyanda and Katlego talk about […]
