The college has still not been given a lease on the municipal buildings it has occupied since 2006, and last year the municipality told the private educators they needed to vacate the premises.

In December, the Eden Campus was given notice to vacate its premises by the end of this month, despite assurances by former Knysna mayor Joy Cole that they would be given a 99-year lease.

The initiator of the private university, Steve Carver, said when the campus was first approved in 2006 by Cole and then municipal manager David Daniels, he was assured of a 99-year lease on the building, which is owned by the municipality.

Although Cole instructed lawyers to draw up the lease, it has still not been done. Carver said he received an official notice from the legal firm Mosdell, Pama & Cox on December 19, demanding the premises be vacated.

He and Eden Campus managing director Graham Lashbrooke then visited the lawyers who telephoned the municipality. The notice to vacate was withdrawn, but the lawyers told them they would not get a lease for longer than three years. The municipality failed to comment.

Prior to occupation by the Eden Campus, the premises were derelict and squatters from Karatara were living there.

Lashbrooke said the municipality had recently sent an assessor to determine the market-related value of the property. He said Eden Campus had spent about R197 000 renovating the building as it had been in a state of disrepair.

Karatara community leader Lwaiêtê Sam said the Eden Campus was of huge benefit to the community. He said he had been very unhappy when he heard that the campus had been given notice to vacate the premises.

The Eden Campus caters for 50 to 60 students a year. They are taught free of charge based on a means test.

The college is a partner of the Cida City Campus in Johannesburg that offers university tuition free of charge.