The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is facing mounting criticism over delayed payments to private student housing providers, threatening the accommodation of thousands of students. The Private Student Housing Association is demanding immediate payment of R44 million owed by NSFAS, threatening evictions if the situation isn't resolved. The Civil Organization, Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), is urging tertiary institutions to resume management of student accommodation, arguing that it eliminates middlemen and streamlines the process. Both OUTA and the Private Student Housing Association cite the current system's inefficiencies and bureaucratic hurdles as contributing factors to the crisis. Meanwhile, NSFAS and the Higher Education Department assure they are working to address these issues and provide funds to eligible students.
Image Credits :The Civil Organization, Undoing Tax Abuse , wants private student accommodation to be managed by tertiary academic institutions like before.
Meanwhile, NSFAS and the Higher Education Department say they are working around the clock to address these issues and to avail monies to all eligible students.But challenges with NSFAS is frustrating the process. To prevent this, OUTA says Tertiary Institutions must take over. “It’s tedious and long. We now have members that have submitted their beds last year November and those beds have not been accredited as we speak. Therefore, we are asking NSFAS to abandon the portal and fix the portal for 2025 and allow universities to manage student accommodation because with universities we are guaranteed that even when NSFAS pay universities late, they are able to advance money to us on a monthly basis,” says CEO of Private Student Housing Association Kagisho Mamabolo.
NSFAS Student Housing Tertiary Institutions Funding Delays Evictions
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