30 October 2017: Students can book their place now to move into Bloemfontein’s newest purpose-designed student residence built by the Respublica Student Living Fund.

The residence will be ready for occupation on January 2018, and will provide 469 rooms, housed in 58 apartments, each with eight single rooms, two bathrooms, a lounge/dining area and a communal kitchen. The residence also offers a thoughtfully designed apartment suited to accommodate up to five physically disabled students.

“This is our first residence project in Bloemfontein, and we are looking forward to welcoming students from the University of the Free State and other tertiary institutions within the city through our doors,” says Craig McMurray, CEO of Respublica. 

The residence borders on the leafy residential area of Universitas, and has been designed to blend seamlessly with its neighbours. Spread across five low-rise buildings, including a communal block that houses the canteen, study and recreation areas, a gym, laundry, swimming pool and outdoor social areas, the residence is within easy walking distance (only 250m) from the University of the Free State entrance – so close that public transport is not even necessary!

“Our well-established residences in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Midrand are sought after by students who value our holistic approach, which includes clean, secure, efficiently run buildings with spaces and facilities that make it possible to balance their social and academic lives,” says McMurray. 

The Bloemfontein residence is a material infrastructure spend in the region of R120m with approximately 60% of the procurement spend aimed at uplifting local contractors and suppliers. Respublica has created roughly 150 employment opportunities during the construction phase of the residence, with a further 20 permanent job opportunities once the development is operational.

As with all Respublica’s residences, the new residence aims to be affordable to most students, whether their attendance at university is privately funded or made possible by bursaries or state programmes. More importantly, students pay a fully inclusive rate with no extra costs as all extras are fully covered by the rental rate. This includes free parking, laundry, WiFi, weekly bedroom cleans as well as all the facilities within the residence. 

All Respublica residences include free uncapped WiFi, a computer lab and study rooms, a gym, a games room, a chill room, laundry facilities and a swimming pool, making sure that there’s a space to do anything that students need to, whether it’s socialising, studying, or keeping fit and healthy. 

Biometric access control supported by 24-hour access to armed response ensures security peace of mind, while a weekly cleaning service and regular maintenance programme make sure that the residence really is a home away from home for residents.

 With the dedicated assistance of on-site residence managers and student leadership structures, Respublica provides an integrated residence life programme to help students adjust to the responsibilities of independence and studies while providing social, sport and educational opportunities to sharpen and develop the softer skills needed in a student’s future career. 

Respublica’s portfolio of residences includes Saratoga Village, Yale Village and The Fields, which provide accommodation for University of Johannesburg, Central Johannesburg College and University of the Witwatersrand students. In Midrand, Princeton House services students from Pearson International (ex MGI). In Pretoria, Hatfield Square, Urban Nest and Eastwood Village accommodate students from Tshwane University of Technology and University of Pretoria and West City accommodate students from Tshwane University of Technology (Main Campus) in Pretoria West.

Respublica recently commenced construction of a new residence in Claremont, Cape Town, which provides accommodation for University of Cape Town as well as a project in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg for University of KwaZulu-Natal.

For more information, rates and applications, visit www.respublica.co.za.

• Respublica Student Living is South Africa’s leading provider of student accommodation. Respublica residences offer vibrant communities which are modern and conducive to the social and academic imperatives of student living. Respublica work hand in hand with students as well as university and corporate customers to offer a range of affordable student accommodation that directly responds to the needs of the students living there. For more information, visit www.respublica.co.za