Members of Council were on site earlier for a sod-turning ceremony of the new student residence at the Bloemfontein Campus, from Left:  Cllr. Peter Qondile, Ward Councillor- Mangaung Metro; Prof Pamela Dube, Vice-Chancellor and Principal and Dr Charity Mbileni-Morema.

The Megaproject at CUT is well underway with the sod-turning of the construction of the new student residence at the Bloemfontein Campus.  It will be followed by the construction of the jewellery school as a single-story building with an exhibition area, two technical studios, a CAD laboratory, a sculpture and casting studio, ablution facilities, a serving kitchen area, a storeroom, and offices.

The residence project is the continuation of the first phase of the infrastructure project at the Welkom Campus to provide students with state-of-the-art facilities.  

The residence will be a complex of two- and three-storey walk-up blocks, with a total bed count of 126 beds.  

The residence will be between Kazerne and Bellevue Street, east of the campus. It will be designed to accommodate both junior and senior students. The blocks will be arranged in clusters around courtyards and will feature a variety of amenities, including a security kiosk, bulk services, landscaping, and external works.

The new jewellery school will be located on the southwestern corner of the campus on the corner of President Brand and President Boshoff Roads. The school will be a highly specialised building focusing on practical training and hands-on learning. It will feature a variety of facilities, including an exhibition area, technical studios, a CAD laboratory, a sculpture and casting studio, ablution facilities, a serving kitchen area, a storeroom, and offices.

These new buildings will provide much-needed accommodation and facilities for students at CUT. The residence will provide a safe and comfortable living environment for students, while the jewellery school will provide students with the skills and knowledge, they need to succeed in the jewellery industry.

The project will also provide opportunities for community engagement as the contractor will be required to provide practical training opportunities to students from the CUT. This will provide students with valuable hands-on experience and help them develop the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.