WATCH : “Mangaung Metro and UFS are pointing fingers at each other” – Advocate Ramon Henney

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The solution to the student accommodation mess in Universitas is far from over, with key stakeholders – Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and the University of the Free State – pointing fingers at each other, according to Advocate Ramon Henney.

Student Accommodation a Nightmare for Universitas Community

Henney, who represented the Universitas Community Forum in a meeting with both institutions on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, said the community has been patient for over two years, but that patience is wearing thin.

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Henney said the municipality is failing to implement and enforce its by-laws.

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He said the value of properties in the area is decreasing as a result of the situation.

Speaking about the meeting, Henney said he advised both parties accordingly.

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Henney said in a meeting last year UFS promised to withdraw accreditions to manage the process better but nothing happened.

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Sharing her views, Yolandie from Universitas said students are causing a mess in the area.

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STEPUPSANEWS took a tour of one of the student residences in Universitas.

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Gert van der Merwe, who owns several properties, said they have been in the business for many years.

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Busi Ntsele also shared her story.

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We also interviewed Gosiame a telele, a third-year student at Kovsies who hails from Tweespruit.

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Student accommodation is a very lucrative business, generating an estimated R900 million per annum.

George Masuabi from Mangaung Metro did not heed our request for an interview.

With at least 47 houses reported to be either illegal or overcrowded, questions remain as to how these properties were accredited.

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This is a developing story.

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