Outrage at University of Cape Town as students report hair, insects, and even rodents in meals served at campus residences.
Cape Town — The University of Cape Town is under intense scrutiny as UCT students living in its residences raise serious concerns about the alarming quality of food being served. Reports of rodents, spoiled milk, mouldy bread, and unidentified foreign objects in meals have sparked outrage and renewed calls for reform within the institution’s catering system.
A series of shocking images and testimonials emerged this week, revealing the full extent of the alleged neglect within UCT dining halls. Students have documented disturbing findings such as “flies coming out of food,” pieces resembling rodents, hair strands, and insects mixed into daily meals. The situation has reached such a critical level that the South African Students Congress (Sasco) has stepped in, launching an internal investigation and public petition demanding immediate reforms.
‘This Food is Making Us Sick’: Students Speak Out
One student from Fuller Hall, who wished to remain anonymous under the pseudonym Navia Grey, described repeated instances of contaminated meals.
“There has been food that has been spoiled or found to have rodents in it,” Grey said. “Particularly at Rochester House residence, there are rodents in the dining hall.”
Students from Avenue Road residence also alleged they found “random little pieces of what seems like it could be rodents” in their food.
Alongside these discoveries, several students reported being served spoiled milk on consecutive days, and meals that were either severely undercooked or burnt beyond recognition. Grey added:
“I’ve personally found hair in my food. There were days where you’d rather go to bed hungry than risk eating.”
Sasco Petition Demands Overhaul of Catering Services
The UCT branch of Sasco has taken the lead in fighting back. Their recent visits to several dining halls revealed what they describe as “daily struggles for nutritious and safe meals.”
In a formal petition handed to UCT housing affairs, Sasco demanded an overhaul of the catering contracts and kitchen management structures. The petition highlights the following grievances:
- Lack of meal variety
- Inconsistent portion sizes
- Spoiled and expired ingredients
- Poor food hygiene and storage
- Unsafe preparation practices
The petition concludes with a firm statement:
“The state of catering at UCT residences is simply unacceptable.”
Health Risks & Alleged Food Poisoning
While many students remain silent out of fear of reprisal, there are growing health concerns. Grey mentioned cases of nausea, migraines, and diarrhoea following the consumption of residence food. One particularly concerning case involved a student who was hospitalised for an entire week, allegedly due to food poisoning.
“We are not blaming the kitchen staff,” Grey clarified. “This is a management issue. It’s about oversight, budget allocation, and accountability.”
University Management & Government Response
At the time of writing, UCT has not released an official statement. The Department of Higher Education has also been contacted for comment. Meanwhile, the petition continues to gain momentum, and Sasco representatives are reportedly in active discussions with the university’s management to address the crisis.
What Happens Next?
Students are demanding not just a fix to the current catering system, but a transparent investigation, long-term oversight, and a shift towards student-centered food planning.
With mounting media attention and graphic proof of the conditions in question, the onus is now on UCT leadership to act swiftly, restore trust, and prioritize student health and dignity.
As Grey poignantly noted, “We came here to learn, not to fight for the right to eat safe food.”
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