Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
The University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa’s oldest university, is visibly deteriorating, with signs of neglect and decay evident across its upper campus. Water damage, peeling paint, and broken ceilings are just some of the issues that have raised alarms, as highlighted by South African attorney and educational expert Richard Wilkinson in a series of posts on X.
Founded in 1829 as the South African College, UCT initially served as a boys’ high school with a small tertiary education component. The university’s growth accelerated after the discovery of gold and diamonds in the northern regions of South Africa, thanks to increased funding from both government and private sources. By the turn of the 20th century, UCT had become a fully-fledged university and had firmly established itself as one of the top universities in Africa and the world.
Despite its rich history and global recognition for outstanding research, UCT has faced significant challenges in recent years. Wilkinson’s visit to the university’s upper campus in December 2024 revealed the extent of the decline.
A Walk Through Neglect
Wilkinson described his observations of the campus, noting signs of clear neglect, such as dirty steps, peeling paint, an out-of-order elevator, and widespread mold and water damage. He posted images of broken tutorial boxes, missing vent covers, and signs that had been removed and left unreplaced. The conditions appeared to be worsening, with dirty walls, broken ceilings, and misplaced mops adding to the overall sense of neglect.
One particularly striking detail was the state of the campus signage. Wilkinson noted that many signs were faded, broken, and peeling, with some, like the one near the rugby field, rendered unreadable. The Cissie Gool Mall sign had been knocked over, with chevron tape and rubble scattered around it.
“These issues shouldn’t take long to fix or cost much,” Wilkinson commented, “It just seems that no one cares.”
Rubbish and Rust
Another pressing concern Wilkinson raised was the litter around the campus. Many of the rubbish bins appeared to be overflowing, with piles of garbage left to accumulate over weeks. “It’s like the rubbish has just been dumped there,” Wilkinson said. He also observed deteriorating drainpipes, some rusting away and showing signs of neglect for over a decade. Plants growing in the gutters posed a risk to drainage and could potentially cause fire hazards.
Campus in Disrepair
The overall state of UCT’s buildings has also taken a hit. Broken masonry, unmaintained windows, and damaged doors are just a few of the issues that contribute to the campus’s dilapidated appearance. Even the once-beautiful green lamp posts outside the PD Hahn building have been left in disrepair, their bases now serving as rusting rubbish bins. The gardens are equally neglected, with plants overgrown or dying due to lack of care. “It’s as if no one is watering the plants or tending to the gardens,” Wilkinson observed.
“The University of Cape Town’s upper campus is starting to resemble a poorly-run municipality like Johannesburg or Durban,” he added.
The University’s Response
In response to the concerns raised by Wilkinson’s social media posts, UCT acknowledged the situation, emphasizing that the images shared did not represent the overall state of the university. “UCT is a large institution with several campuses spread across different locations, and as such, the pictures do not reflect the general condition of the university,” a spokesperson said.
The university stated that maintaining a clean and safe environment is a priority and noted that it conducts a planned, ongoing maintenance program. “We utilize the vacation period to undertake core maintenance work,” the spokesperson added, explaining that some of the issues, such as litter collection, had already been addressed.
UCT clarified that some tasks would be attended to once the skeleton staff working during the vacation period completed their ongoing work.
A Call for Action
While UCT has committed to addressing the issues on campus, the visible deterioration has raised concerns about the management of the university’s resources and priorities. The neglect of the campus highlights the broader challenges faced by institutions of higher learning in South Africa, where resources are often stretched thin and maintenance is sometimes overlooked in favor of other priorities.
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