The Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (DASO) has called on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to urgently investigate and blacklist service providers accused of housing students in substandard, unsafe accommodation near the Umfolozi TVET College’s Nkandla campus.
This follows an unannounced oversight visit by DASO to two NSFAS-accredited, privately run residences. The organisation says the living conditions are “degrading” and in breach of the Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing.
We therefore call on NSFAS to launch an urgent investigation, blacklist the service-providers concerned, and guarantee every student a safe, dignified place to live
Unsafe and Unsanitary Conditions
The first residence, located off a dirt road behind the campus, reportedly housed two students per cramped room with no study desk, poor lighting, and no running water. A shared ablution block made of raw cement and tin served over 60 students, offering only two toilets and four showers reliant on JoJo tanks. The site also lacked fire safety equipment, emergency exits, and security personnel.
The second inspected residence had smaller rooms, broken windows, and no communal kitchen. DASO says students are forced to cook in their bedrooms, and no perimeter security or fire-safety measures were present.
Full NSFAS Allowance Charged
DASO says despite these conditions and failure to meet the minimum norms and standards for student housing, landlords allegedly charge students monthly rent R3 000 per student.
The student political movement describe the action of NSFAS paying these accommodation providers as a terrible misuse of public funds/
NSFAS disburses taxpayer money on the assumption that accredited residences meet the standard grading criteria.
Impact on Education and Safety
DASO has called for NSFAS to conduct an urgent inspection and investigation into the accreditation process of the residences.
They further called for the suspension and blacklisting of any any accommodation providers found guilty of fraudulent activity. They also want the students to be relocated to safe and dignified housing.
“We refuse to leave any student behind. Young people are the future of South Africa, and we cannot stand by as they are robbed of the opportunity to make the most of the educational opportunities afforded to them,” DASO concluded.
