The truth is, we don't know HOW much NSFAS owes in arrears - DA wants full accountability
Student housing providers say NSFAS owes them millions, threatening thousands of student beds — but NSFAS wants proof.
- Democratic Alliance (DA)
- National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
- Early Breakfast with Africa Melane
FILE: Young students working together. Pexels/Monstera Production
702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane is joined by MP Matlhodi Maseko MP, the DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training.
Listen below:
R62 million.
That's what the student housing sector claims it is owed in unpaid rent and it says the fault lies with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
In practical terms, the staggering figure is threatening nearly 2 800 student beds across South Africa.
But NSFAS, disputes the R62 million figure and has asked for evidence of how that amount was arrived at?
So just how much money is owing Melane asks Maseko?
ALSO READ: NSFAS disputes R62 million housing debt amid accommodation crisis
"The reality is, we don't have a clue."
- MP Matlhodi Maseko, DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training
"All we know for now is that, while some landlords fail to meet requirements, NSFAS also has a flawed accreditation process."
- MP Matlhodi Maseko, DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training
Maseko says there are instances of institutions being owed money by NSFAS and, in turn, there are cases where NSFAS is owed by the institutions.
"So, the landlords cannot be the only ones held responsible and NSFAS cannot be the one that is saying it not owing the landlords that amount."
- MP Matlhodi Maseko, DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training
Private landlords and accommodation providers report arrears dating back to January 2024, with some operators - especially smaller and black-owned businesses - facing closure.
Universities like Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) have had to resort to emergency housing as a result.
"If there are flaws that are happening within your system, it cannot be the responsibility is with anybody else, if not you."
- MP Matlhodi Maseko, DA Spokesperson on Higher Education and Training
NSFAS wants proof it owes a massive R62 million to landlords - scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation from Early Breakfast.