Fuse lit in student accommodation time bomb

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) is under fire yet again as unresolved issues in its student accommodation programmes threaten to spark nationwide unrest.

- Oratile Mashilo

Despite previous warnings from Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), Nsfas has not settled its debt to the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA).

Yesterday, Outa urged Nsfas to allow universities and colleges to manage student housing in 2025, citing the fund's inadequate handling of private accommodation.

Outa senior project manager Rudie Heyneke warned of a student accommodation crisis because of Nsfas' poor handling of private student accommodation.

In a statement by Outa this week, the PSHA warned that the accommodation provider would not open for returning students unless Nsfas settles the R44 million owed from last year within 14 days.