This call comes after DASO conducted an unannounced oversight visit to two NSFAS-accredited private residences, which the organisation described as “degrading” and in violation 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,” said DASO.
Students Living in Unsafe and Unsanitary Conditions
The first residence, located behind the campus on a dirt road, was found to house two students per cramped room without desks or adequate lighting. The facility lacked running water, relying instead on JoJo tanks, and featured a shared ablution block made of raw cement and tin with only two toilets and four showers for more than 60 students. The site also had no fire safety equipment, emergency exits, or security personnel.
The second residence had even smaller rooms with broken windows and no communal kitchen. DASO reported that students were forced to cook in their bedrooms and that the facility had no perimeter fencing, fire safety systems, or security presence.
R3,000 Monthly Rent Charged Despite Poor Conditions
Despite the poor conditions, DASO claims landlords are charging students R3,000 per month, with NSFAS continuing to pay these providers despite their failure to meet housing standards. The organisation criticised this as a serious misuse of public funds.
“NSFAS disburses taxpayer money on the assumption that accredited residences meet the standard grading criteria,” DASO said.
Call for Urgent Action and Reforms
DASO is calling on NSFAS to conduct a thorough investigation into the accreditation process for student housing and to suspend and blacklist providers found to be non-compliant or fraudulent.
They also demand the immediate relocation of affected students to housing that meets safety and dignity standards.
“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.
