Note to Editors: Please find pictures of today’s oversight here, here, here, here and here.
- The DA uncovered shocking, unsafe, and crumbling living conditions at a university residence in Gqeberha.
- Students face ongoing crises — from unpaid NSFAS allowances to being exploited by rogue landlords.
- The DA has launched a national reporting portal to expose failures and escalate urgent student housing issues.
An oversight inspection by the DA at a university residence in Gqeberha today, has revealed shocking and unacceptable residential living conditions. Almost every aspect of the living conditions were broken, from the perimeter fencing and plumbing, to the refuse facilities, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and flooring. This is an unacceptable disgrace.
Apart from the physical dereliction and dilapidation, numerous students have also pleaded for help with their accommodation payments as many of them still do not receive their allowances on time.
The conditions discovered during today’s oversight is undoubtedly mirrored on campuses across South Africa, which is why the DA launched our new portal for students to report accommodation failures.
We will use this online portal to give a voice to voiceless students and to establish a clear picture of the widespread accommodation problem. The DA will work with the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, to escalate these issues for resolution by the National Department or directly to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAs).
Students have struggled with various aspects of the accommodations for a number of years, and rather than problems being solved, each year the situation seems to deteriorate. From students having to start their academic years without safe and appropriate housing in place, late NSFAS accommodation allowance payments and mid-year defunding by NSFAS, to unscrupulous accommodation providers preying on vulnerable students who face either destitution or settling for housing in unsafe buildings or areas.
At oversights, allegations of students forced to trade sex for accommodation or landlords keeping students’ possessions, including study materials, were revealed by student representatives.
Students often study far from home in towns and cities where they have little to no support systems. And while NSFAS’ student accommodation online portal service providers and student accommodation accrediting agents were supposed to be in aid of providing students with suitable and safe accommodation, irregularities in awarding the tenders, as well as the service providers’ inability to offer effectively deliver the services needed, were exposed last year.
NSFAS is meant to help students, including those in vulnerable circumstances, attain their goals and dreams, not be hindrances.
Quality education is the best way for South African youth to become economically independent, thriving individuals and as the DA we aim to help them on this journey.