Staff Reporter
East London – With the University of the Free State expected to admit no fewer than 5,000 first-year students, the majority will not be accommodated on campus due to limited residence space.
As a result, students are increasingly turning to nearby suburbs such as Universitas and Park West, given their close proximity to the Kovsies campus.
However, residents in both areas have expressed growing frustration, accusing homeowners of converting residential houses into student accommodation without approved building plans. The blame, they say, lies squarely with the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, which they accuse of failing to enforce planning and zoning regulations.
Jako, a Park West resident, shared his experience and dissatisfaction with the municipality’s handling of the situation.
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Also sharing his views is Frikkie Einsteinberg, Chairperson of the Universitas Neighbourhood Association.
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Residents are now asking critical questions:
Can students and residents realistically co-exist?
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What are the implications for safety and security in these neighbourhoods?
According to records, as of 2 September 2025, Universitas had 27 student accommodation buildings that were either illegal or overcrowded—a number believed to have increased since then.
When approached for comment, Mmamio Mahao, the Acting General Manager: Planning referred this publication to Marlize, the acting municipal spokesperson, who in turn referred queries to Qondile Khedama.
Residents say they are still awaiting clear answers, particularly on how building developments are being allowed to proceed without approved plans and what steps the municipality intends to take to restore order and compliance.
In other related news, efforts to pushSello More, City Manager out of Mangaung Metro to Free State Provincial Government are causing tension in the Bloemfontein based Metro following a meeting between African National Congress (ANC) and Free State Provincial Government (FSPG).
According to insiders Gregory Mosala Solomon Nthatisi has told the ANC More is failing to deal with service delivery while the score card is at 61%.
More will not be the only one joining FSPG should Nthatisi succeed, he will join Mpho Sikisi, the newly appointed Media Liaison Officer of Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae, Free State Premier.
Sikisi worked for MMM and also served as a board member of FSGLTA. She remained one of few board members from the disbanded board and the current board she is part of the same board that appointed a 59 year old on a five years contract despite company policy stipulating 60 as retirement age.
This is developing story.
If you have news or tips please email news@stepupsanews.co.za or WhatsApp 0685076731
Around the house that I have been renting the past year and 6 months, 3 houses have been converted into student accomodation.
The students have no respect for anything of anybody. They party till early morning hours, not giving a hell about neighbours that are working, senior citizens or moms with babies.
Another issue is the drug dealing in our neighborhood. They deal openly in the streets.
Please send us location on 0685076731
These student houses are a really sore eye in our neighborhood. The owners :
1 Do not follow process of registering residential houses to student housings
2 Overnight building and extensions on houses take place.
3 Sewerage to mainline are not done
4 Garden and sidewalks are neglected
5 We feel unsafe to go out or returning home
6 Parties since dawn till dawn
7 Littering and loitering
8 Crime
9 Dealing drugs openly by students
10 Houses suitable for a family of 3 people are converted to more occupants within garages, outside buildings
Please text us, we would like to visit that area 0685076731
Concerned resident
I moved to universitas in 2017 and the neighbourhood was nice and quiet. Now there is a lot of crime, house break ins and my children even fear to walk to spar which is literally a 5 minutes walk from my house. The place no longer feels safe. Since moving to Benedictus Kok practically most houses on the street have been turned into student accommodation.
Living here is now very unsettling and I will most probably have to move given the increase in noise pollution, disturbance and poisoning of dogs to mention but a few. The construction of buildings at night have made it a nightmare to the point where one wakes up still feeling tired and expected to go to work and also take children to school despite not having rested.
Allowing conversion of student housing should be re looked and more facilities should be provisioned for in the university… Allocation of land strictly for student accommodation should be made more so in the university campus and if this is not possible then the capacity and intake of students should align with the facilities available. Alternatively residents should be compensated so that they can relocate to different suburbs if the Municipality wants to make universitas and Parkwest student town. It is unfair for residents to almost be held ransom to the degree that they have been with the mushrooming student accommodations within the area.
A thorough investigation should be done on this matter for starters on Benedictus Kok street and surrounding streets.
Please text us, if you don’t mind an interview 0685076731