Since the #FeesMustFall protests ended in 2017, student residences have suffered from a significant backlog in maintenance and repairs. While we acknowledge and appreciate the university's efforts to renovate and restore its facilities, it is disheartening to observe that the focus has primarily been on large-scale projects, while the essential, everyday maintenance issues reported by students remain largely ignored or severely delayed.

We have documented numerous maintenance issues that have persisted for months and, in some cases, even years without resolution. These issues include, but are not limited to:

• Broken wardrobe doors, shower doors, and heads: These are basic amenities necessary for personal hygiene and storage.
• Malfunctioning or missing room doors, emergency doors, and door locks: These issues pose serious security risks to students, compromising their safety and privacy.
• Damaged or missing toilet pots and cisterns, leaking taps, and blocked drains: These create unsanitary conditions and contribute to a deteriorating living environment.
• Non-functional stoves, urns, and study lamps: These impede our ability to prepare food and study, both of which are crucial to our well-being and academic performance.
• Worn-out or damaged couches, chairs, and mirrors: These contribute to an overall decline in the quality of life in our residences, making them uncomfortable and unwelcoming.
• Fused globes and burst pipes: These are fundamental utilities that require immediate attention to ensure a safe and habitable living space.

The prolonged neglect of these issues has had a profound impact on our daily lives. The lack of timely maintenance has resulted in a significant decline in the standard of living within our residences, creating an environment that is not only uncomfortable but also hazardous. This neglect undermines our academic performance, mental health, and overall university experience. We feel that the university is not upholding its responsibility to provide safe, clean, and functional living spaces, despite the considerable fees we pay.

We demand that the CPUT administration and facilities management take immediate and decisive action to address the maintenance issues plaguing our student residences. Specifically, we request the following:

1. Immediate Assessment and Repair: Conduct a thorough and immediate assessment of all reported maintenance issues in every student residence. Repairs must be prioritized and completed within a reasonable timeframe, with a focus on safety and functionality.
2. Improved Communication and Response Time: Establish clear channels for reporting maintenance issues, with guaranteed response times. Students should be informed of the expected timeline for repairs and kept updated on the progress.
3. Regular Maintenance Schedule: Implement a regular maintenance schedule to prevent the recurrence of such issues. Preventative maintenance should be prioritized to ensure that minor problems do not escalate into major ones.
4. Transparency and Accountability: Provide transparency regarding the allocation of maintenance budgets and projects. Students should be able to see where their fees are being invested and hold the university accountable for any delays or failures in service delivery.
5. Establishment of a Resident Oversight Committee: Form a committee consisting of student representatives, residence management, and maintenance staff to oversee maintenance issues and ensure that student concerns are addressed promptly and effectively, while providing quarterly feedback to residence students and coordinators.

As students, we chose CPUT for its reputation of striving for innovation and academic excellence. We expect the same standard of excellence in the living conditions provided to us. The current state of our residences is unacceptable and requires immediate attention. We urge the CPUT management and administration to take our concerns seriously and to act with the urgency and diligence that this situation demands.