United Democratic Movement, UDM acting Secretary General, Zandile Phiri says the recent sight of students sleeping outside Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a clear sign that South Africa's student accommodation crisis is deepening. Hundreds of students at the start of the 2026 academic year remain without confirmed residence placements. NSFAS has stated it does not manage university housing and that institutions are responsible for student accommodation, while some providers have accepted students without finalised funding. Elvis Presslin spoke to Zandile Phiri, UDM's Acting Secretary General