The South African Students Congress is calling for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to pay for private accommodation provided to prevent students from being evicted.
NSFAS must respond swiftly to ensure students receive the necessary support for their education
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges The funding not only includes money for tuition and registration fees but also includes several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials.
Vezihlanhla Simelane expressed concern over the impact of NSFAS delays on students, particularly those reliant on the scheme’s accommodation allowance.
The delay in NSFAS payments to private student accommodation landlords has severely affected students who depend on this funding for their housing
Simelane criticised the lack of clarity and coordination with the NSFAS process for private accommodation arguing that it left stakeholders confused and ultimately led to the current situation.
"The process of NSFAS has started to check buildings approved for accommodation, but the mistake from the beginning was the lack of clear guidance for students…There were no clear instructions from NSFAS on how students should apply for approved buildings, leading to confusion and delays."
Simelane called for NSFAS to follow through on plans to decentralise their operations arguing that the scheme must establish offices in all of South Africa’s nine provinces to deal with challenges as they arise.
NSFAS must establish offices in provinces and regions to address immediate challenges effectively. Sitting in Cape Town and managing processes online is insufficient for the magnitude of issues students are facing.
Simelane also called for a review of the NSFAS accommodation allowances. NSFAS categorises accommodation based on their geographical location grouping housing into metro and non-metro areas.
However, they argue that NSFAS must take other environmental factors into account including the cost of utilities like the cost of water and electricity.
NSFAS must engage municipalities in those areas [metros] so that they can subsidise those people who are accommodating our students
NSFAS Responds
NSFAS has acknowledged concerns regarding outstanding payments to private accommodation providers and is actively working to resolve any payment challenges.
In response, NSFAS Administrator Freeman Nomvalo has instructed NSFAS staff to promptly address these matters and urges affected landlords to cooperate with the established NSFAS process.
To facilitate the resolution of disputes or concerns related to unpaid accommodation allowances, NSFAS has established a dedicated email address ([email protected]) for landlords to submit their grievances by 10 May 2024.
The administrator emphasises NSFAS's commitment to working with all affected parties to swiftly resolve payment issues and apologises for any inconvenience caused, pledging to find workable solutions for the betterment of the Post-School Education and Training System.
