AMUKELANI MAKAMU AND JAMEO CALVERT
There are roughly 5382 students living in university residences across South Africa during the current lockdown. This is according to a report from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande. Of these, 236 are in UP residences. Students could apply to stay in residences once evacuations started, but only those with compelling reasons were allowed to stay. The majority are international students. PDBY spoke to some of these students.
Mafuro Mugabe is a UP student from Zimbabwe who currently lives at House Nala. She explains that living at res in the midst of a global pandemic, knowing that other students are at home with their families, can weigh you down. Mugabe says while feeling alone and vulnerable she is very thankful to TuksRes management for playing the role of being a second parent to the international students who stayed behind. She says that the pay-out money for groceries from the meal account, and the virtual counselling provided via WhatsApp from the TuksRes counselling unit, has played a huge role emotionally, and mentally for students caught up in this global pandemic.
Takudzwa Mutasa, a second-year student, is an international student from Zimbabwe who stays at Tuks Village. He says staying at res was the safest, and best possible way to avoid future problems, like getting a permit to come back to South Africa. He explains that it is quiet and lonely since a lot of people have left for home, however, he feels safe and secure within res, and finds the conditions well suited for studying. He believes living at res is the best possible way to keep away from the virus, and apply social distancing.
TuksRes also put in place precautions to ensure that students who stayed behind do not contract the virus. According to Mutasa, students are not allowed to leave res except when they need to go out to do important things like buying groceries. Prof. Lise Korsten, the house parent of House Khutso, says that students have been provided with cleaning products and were encouraged to dispose their waste in the entrance bins. She says that House Khutso has surgical masks and surgical gloves for students placed at the entrance in case any student wants to go out for important reasons.
Prof. Korsten told PDBY that they keep on monitoring the students to see if they are coping. She mentioned that the students have a positive spirit of cooperation, and she appreciates the students for realising how critical the situation is.
Image: Cletus Mulaudi
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