NSFAS housing cap is driving UCT student debt crisis – SRC

RISING RENTALS

- LILITA GCWABE

THE University of Cape Town's (UCT) Student Representative Council (SRC) has appealed directly to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Acting CEO to intervene in what it describes as a growing student debt crisis caused by the accommodation cap.

The council warns that some students are unable to graduate or pursue postgraduate studies because of accommodation-related fee blocks.

In a letter sent to Waseem Carrim earlier this month, the SRC requested a meeting with NSFAS leadership to discuss the impact of the cap, arguing that while it was introduced to protect the funding scheme from inflated accommodation costs charged by some private landlords, it is now having severe consequences for students studying in Cape Town.

“The SRC understands and acknowledges the original intent behind the implementation of the cap. We recognise the necessity of protecting NSFAS from the deliberate inflation of accommodation prices by certain private providers,” the SRC wrote.