By Daanyaal Matthews
Student housing has long been a major challenge for university students, who often worry about where they will sleep at night. Recent reports indicate that the situation has become so dire that some students have resorted to protesting in the streets. The crisis stems from two key issues: the availability of accommodation and funding. The latter becomes particularly pressing every January and February, as students petition NSFAS to cover their housing costs. However, a deeper issue also contributes to student homelessness—student debt. Many students are unable to secure university accommodation due to outstanding fees, often linked to inefficiencies within NSFAS.
Speaking on VOC’s NewsBeat, Vezinhlanhla Simelane, former president of the South African Students Congress, said the challenges facing higher education require stronger government intervention. Yet, despite the persistence of these issues, the Department of Higher Education has failed to propose a lasting solution.
“Of course, there are many issues—fees and so on—but student housing has always been at the center of our discussions. And by the look of things, we are not sure if a solution exists because what is needed is a permanent fix,” Simelane stressed.
A common complaint among students is the mental toll of unstable housing, which negatively affects academic performance. However, Simelane argues that the issue extends beyond academics—it reflects deeper structural problems within NSFAS, particularly in how it supports students throughout their studies. He points to a concerning trend: students often struggle between their first and final years of funding, yet NSFAS continues to operate under the rigid n+1 rule, which allows only one additional year beyond the standard degree duration. According to Simelane, this fails to account for the broader financial and academic challenges students face.
“The mistake the government and NSFAS make is that they celebrate funding over a million students, but they don’t ask, ‘From the moment we start funding you until you complete your qualification, how are you doing in between?’” Simelane contended.
Listen to the full interview here:
