by Kerry-Lee Christensen
At the Neelsie Student Centre, rising food prices have become a growing point of frustration for some students trying to balance convenience with affordability.
“It’s not sustainable to be spending such large amounts of money on such a regular basis,” said second-year LLB student Stacey Paulse. According to Paulse, the overall cost of eating on campus has become increasingly difficult to maintain. She explained that she now opts for cheaper meals or chooses to eat elsewhere whenever possible.
Some students also expressed frustration over the pricing of healthier food options. Uyanda Ceke, a second-year LLB student who said she buys food at the Neelsie two to three times a week, mentioned that healthier meals often seem significantly more expensive than other options available on campus. “I feel like the healthier the food is, the more expensive it gets,” Ceke said. She added that increasing prices have affected both her budgeting and eating habits, causing her to eat less and prioritise spending on meals that are more filling rather than nutritious.
Similarly, Tamanda Kawoloka, a third-year BCom student in economic sciences and investment management, said, “I’m starting to see spending in the Neelsie as a luxury good now,” She added that she would rather buy groceries and prepare food herself than regularly spend money on meals on campus. However, she admitted that convenience still plays a role in her decision to eat there. “I would be willing to pay more, I just wish I didn’t have to,” she said.
Other students questioned whether current pricing reflects the financial realities many students face. Tristan Boyd, a second-year BEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) student, described Neelsie prices as “too much money for too little food” and argued that vendors should be more mindful of student budgets.
Seth Scott, a fourth-year BSc (Conservation Ecology) student, has also noticed an increase in meal prices in the Neelsie. He mentioned the “Filler Breakfast” (chips, two bacon pieces, two eggs and two slices of bread) at Nca’kos, one of the take-away restaurants in the Neelsie food court known for their all-day breakfasts, as an example: “It was R47 last year, if you got it just on a plate. This year it’s R62. So that’s a R15 increase.”
Scott added that he believes SUNCom charges vendors in the Neelsie an expensive rent which could be contributing to the high meal prices.
While the interviewed students acknowledged the convenience of having food available on campus between classes, many of them felt that affordability should remain a priority in a student-centred environment.
