The University of the Witwatersrand: more commonly known as “Wits” and home to the “Kudos Kudo” is situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. With 21 various residences on campus, Wits offers an array of residences ranging from catering to self-catering and single to mixed gender facilities. Wits recognises that living within a residence environment can often be one of the best and most rewarding experiences of a student’s career.

Residence life is different for every student and often students are faced with situations that they have never experienced or been in before. Where you were once in the majority, you may now find yourself now in the minority within your particular res; be it because of your culture, race or creed.

In this article, Stoogle.co.za explores the Wits Residence system and how radically unbalanced the system is. We looked into the lives of various Wits students who gave us their insight into Wits residence.

 

Francesca Bernes, a Health Science student residing at her home in Johannesburg explained how for her, as a white female, it was “common knowledge” to not go into residence at Wits, as it is majority African.

“Since I was in high school and was looking at different universities to attend, it was common knowledge among us to not go and res at Wits, as it was all ‘blacks’. Living in residence at Wits was not even an option in my mind.”

Francesca continued to explain how white Wits students, especially girls, chose not to attend residence owing to the unbalanced racial quota.

“Anyone who goes to Wits can see for themselves how racially unbalanced the residences are. There are the two white girls who study with me and they stay in res. At first I was very taken back that they chose to stay in res. Its very uncommon to see a white girl staying in res at Wits.”

 

Jason Schnell, a white male engineering student, left Cape Town for Wits owing to the fact that he was not accepted into University of Cape Town (UCT) residence. Jason was placed in Knockanda Residence, an all-boys res that houses approximately 400 students.

 

Similarly, Maja Kuhar, a white female Health Sciences student, left Cape Town for Wits as it was the only university that she was accepted into for her choice of degree. She was placed into Wits Junction, a resident accommodation that is commonly suited to postdoctoral students, visiting academics and students pursuing postgraduate qualifications.

 

Both Jason and Maja explained that they were in the minority within their residences owing to their race:

“I was definitely in the minority as a result of my race. Although it may come across as controversial, the simple truth was that I was part of a minority of whites who resided in the majority black residential system at Wits”, Jason explained.

Maja explained that she found res life extremely difficult:

“I had to go into res as my parents were not happy with me living alone in a flat during my first year. I had no other option. At first I did find it extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t speak an African language and during O-Week I felt that I didn’t receive the respect I deserved. I was often just excluded just because I wasn’t African and couldn’t communicate with everyone else.”

 

Ashvir Rajkumar, an Indian male Medicine student originally from Pretoria who too is in Wits Junction, described the racial unbalance within Wits residences as “real yet not discriminating”.

“I am definitely in the minority as an Indian student living in res but it hasn’t affected me as such. I believe that Johannesburg is super chilled about race and everyone is very social. Res opens one up to that, it creates a chilled, independent environment where everyone is able to forget their race and culture and just accept others around them.”

 

Although this may be true, Wits still has the reputation of a racially unbalanced residence, which in turn will affect a student’s decision when applying to university and residence.

“Wits now has a reputation about their residences and that will influence a students decision on whether to attend Wits or not. Compared to the other universities such as UCT or TUKS, their res life is much more spoken about and accepted,” Francesca said.

“If I were to attend one of those universities (UCT or TUKS) I wouldn’t have a problem having to go to res there.”

Francesca continued to explain how the racial unbalance is wrong and how students should not have to think twice about going to res because of the racial quota.

“If Wits is able to advertise their residences better and promotes them more, then maybe the student’s outlook on the residence will improve.”

“For now, personally I would not live in the Wits residences unless a change is made in how they are maintained and one can see an improvement in how they are advertised and looked after”, Francesca concluded.

 

When asked what they would tell a prospective student who would fall under the category of ‘minority’, Jason and Maja explained that embracing who you are is a key component.

“I would simply say, embrace your differences, be proud of them and don’t try to blend in. You will get caught out trying to blend in, rather stand out as it will get you ahead and you will get something out of varsity life that not many people (more noticeably at WITS) get to enjoy”, Jason explained.

Maja too further emphasised that if she had not embraced your differences, she wouldn’t have survived:   

“In life you will not always be in your comfort zone, you need to get use to it. Find a way to deal with it and just embrace who you are. Its scary in the beginning but once you get past that and deal with it, it teaches you life lessons and helps you in the future. I have had some of my best times here.”

 

As seen above, the Wits Resident system is indeed largely unbalanced. When applying to universities and to residences, students need to take such factors into account and be prepared for what may lay ahead of them. Students need to be aware of what they are getting themselves into and either chose to not do it or they need to prepare themselves.

With that said however, university is also a time for students to get out of their comfort zones and experience new and different things. Perhaps, like Jason and Maja, you too can find a way to embrace it and grow from such a circumstance.

Wits Residential Management was unable to give comment at this time. 

For more information on Wits Residences, please visit: http://www.wits.ac.za/accommodation