Two women’s residences share Over de Voor after Thaba-Jäh closes

The women’s residences Vergeet-my-Nie and Wag-’n-Bietjie both have to sleep with the men’s residence Over de Voor for the term 2020/2021 after the men’s residence Thaba-Jäh closed indefinitely. 

Sleep refers to a pairing between a men’s and women’s residence for a term, when they compete in various activities together.

According to Louis Jacobs, the director of corporate communication of the North-West University (NWU), no decision has been made regarding the permanent closure of Thaba-Jäh. The residence is not permitted to take in any first years for 2021 while the university looks into the possibility of repositioning the residence. The format of this repositioning is not yet known. 

Jak van Vuuren, the residence parent of Thaba-Jäh, confirmed that before quarantine in 2020, Thaba-Jäh had submitted plans to become the first coeducational residence on the Potchefstroom campus of the NWU. He further said that they are currently working with the director of student life to establish the way forward.

While Thaba-Jäh’s future hangs in the balance, there is an odd number of women’s to men’s residences, which means two women’s residences have to share one men’s residence. This is a temporary arrangement until the way forward has been cleared up, Jacobs said

While the primaria, the head of the house committee (HC) of the women’s residences, weren’t willing to comment, the prim of Over de Voor, Eugene Roets, said that he and his house HC knew this arrangement would be a challenge. He says that they expect an extraordinary term in terms of the residence activities, and what they’re allowed to do. He does have high hopes for the term, however, since two women’s residences means twice as much resources and support. 

Despite these high expectations, many arrangements are still very uncertain. “We never quite know where we stand with the university, or what we can expect from different aksies,” Roets said. “With reference to the arrangements with the two women’s residences we have, we are very lucky. All three HC’s realise that we have to consider everyone, and need to build a good understanding towards each other. We also realised that if any issues arise, we have to solve it as soon as possible.”

The residences expect to navigate this tricky situation with good communication, adaptability, patience, and perseverance to ensure a successful term, Roets said. 

The outcome of Thaba-Jäh’s repositioning will have a lasting effects on student life in the future. Should it close permanently, the odd number of women’s to men’s residences will remain, making arrangements like the one with Over de Voor, Vergeet-My-Nie and Wag-’n-Bietjie a permanent necessity.