[imagesource: x/@wilkinsoncape]

The University of Cape Town’s upper campus tells a story of neglect and decay, a far cry from its former glory. Water damage streaks through once-pristine walls, paint peels off in forlorn flakes, and ceilings stand broken and defeated – a tragic shadow of what was.

Founded in 1829 as the South African College, it began as a modest high school for boys. After 1880, when gold and diamonds lit up the northern horizon, the college expanded with newfound vigour, fuelled by private and government funding.

By 1900, it had transformed into a fully-fledged university, destined to become South Africa’s crown jewel of academia. For decades, the University of Cape Town stood proudly, earning its place as the top-ranked university in Africa and one of the most respected globally. Its researchers achieved international acclaim, producing groundbreaking discoveries that echoed far beyond South Africa’s borders.

But in recent years, the cracks have deepened, both figuratively and literally. The challenges UCT faces are etched into the fabric of its campus – a visible testament to the storms it has weathered.

South African attorney and educational specialist Richard Wilkinson visited the campus in December 2024 and shared photos of the neglect he witnessed, sharing his findings in a series of posts on X, per BusinessTech.

He said there were “clear signs of neglect and decay everywhere”, noting dirty steps, paint peeling off walls alongside widespread mould and water damage.

The physical decay of UCT is reflection of its moral decay. Well done to @wilkinsoncape for exposing this. https://t.co/4HzIC4DQ40

— Rowan Polovin (@rowpolo) January 2, 2025

Talking of rubbish, many of the bins don’t seem to have been cleared out in weeks.

And there is a noticeable amount of litter on the campus. Sometimes lying in giant piles as if it has been dumped there. pic.twitter.com/osByVWGiXh

— Richard Wilkinson (@wilkinsoncape) December 16, 2024

Wilkinson was also struck by the state of the signage on the upper campus.

This sign by the rugby field is the worst I saw. Unreadable. pic.twitter.com/eJKVoClqZx

— Richard Wilkinson (@wilkinsoncape) December 16, 2024

He described the scene with dismay: broken tutorial boxes lay forgotten, a door stood awkwardly exposed without its vent cover, and ripped-off wall signs left behind ghostly outlines – their replacements nowhere to be found.

The decay didn’t stop there. Ceilings hung in disrepair, walls were grimy and forsaken, and random mops were strewn about like remnants of an unfinished battle with cleanliness. Even a door, once adorned with brass fittings, now stood bare.

Mould and water damage. Broken tutorial boxes. Wall signs that have been ripped off and never replaced. A door that has lost its vent cover. pic.twitter.com/u3ln3BIlB9

— Richard Wilkinson (@wilkinsoncape) December 16, 2024

There was also a lot of rubbish around the campus, with bins that Wilkinson reckons haven’t been cleared out in weeks.

“There is a noticeable amount of litter on the campus. Sometimes lying in giant piles as if it has been dumped there,” he said.

He also noted how drainpipes are rusting and plants are growing in gutters, which is a serious fire hazard when drainage becomes worse. As for the gardens, they are also in a poor state, having not been watered in seemingly forever.

“Everything is overgrown or dying,” he said.

Wilkinson suggested it was misguided ideologies that were the cause of the decay, noting how “The University of Cape Town’s upper campus is starting to resemble a poorly-run municipality like Johannesburg or Durban or Pietermaritzburg,” he said.

The University of Cape Town told BusinessTech that it had noted the social media posts in question and pointed out that they have numerous campuses, so these images don’t reflect the true state of the institution. They also blamed skeleton staff over the holiday period.

The question now is whether this once-mighty institution can reclaim its splendour or if it will remain trapped in the slow, sorrowful crumble of decline.

[source:businesstech]