South Africa’s student accommodation crisis is deepening, with over 500,000 beds currently in short supply across the country. As universities open for the new academic year, tensions are rising, with students protesting the lack of available housing, forcing some to sleep in libraries and outside campus grounds. Amid this chaos, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Buti Manamela has revealed that the government, in partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), is working to settle a significant debt owed to private accommodation providers.
Last month, the Private Student Housing Association raised alarm over NSFAS’s outstanding debt of R44 million from the previous year, warning that this could lead to students being left without accommodation. Manamela addressed the issue, confirming that NSFAS has committed to clearing the debt. “I had a long meeting with senior members of NSFAS, and they have started making payments to most private accommodation providers at the beginning of this year,” he said.
The ongoing accommodation crisis has prompted fierce protests, particularly at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town, where students, many from outside the province, have clashed with private security after being left homeless. The protests highlight the urgency of the issue, with students demanding access to basic accommodation as the academic year begins.
In response, the government has been seeking solutions to the crisis, including the approval of 12 blended finance projects worth nearly R38 billion aimed at improving student housing. However, student leaders, including Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member Sihle Lonzi, have criticized the government’s approach, arguing that it fails to address the immediate shortage of accommodation.
Despite the setbacks, Minister Manamela urged private accommodation providers not to penalize NSFAS-funded students. “We want to use this opportunity to call on them to deal with NSFAS and not prejudice students,” he emphasized.
The ongoing student accommodation crisis remains one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges, with government officials and student leaders alike calling for swift, effective solutions to ensure that no student is left without a safe place to live while pursuing their education.
