Johannesburg – The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that outstanding payments of student accommodation will only be finalised on receipt of legitimate accommodation claims.
Responding to warnings of the possible eviction of thousands of students whose rent was in arrears, NSFAS on Friday, (24 January 2025), said it “notes” the stance of the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA), regarding outstanding payments for accommodation providers (APs).
Earlier this week PSHA warned that as many as 7 000 students were at risk of eviction if NSFAS failed to settle, within two weeks, the outstanding R44 million in unpaid rentals.
PSHA CEO Kagisho Mamabolo said: “We agreed not to evict students last year, on the condition that NSFAS would settle the outstanding amounts by year-end. That promise has not been fulfilled”.
Mamabolo added: “If NSFAS doesn’t pay, we will be forced to prevent students from returning to our residences.
“We can’t afford to absorb the costs.”
On Friday, (24 January 2025), the student financing body said it has been communicating with service providers to resolve the matter.
“The NSFAS Administrator Mr. Freeman Nomvalo, engaged with the leadership of the PSHA regarding the concerns raised,” the student financial aid scheme said in a statement.
“The NSFAS Administrator calls upon the PSHA to furnish NSFAS with the list of affected APs and students so that the situation can be immediately resolved.
“The call also goes to all APs who have outstanding legitimate claims to also submit their lists to NSFAS for further processing and verification.
“NSFAS would like to remind all APs that payments of student accommodation will only be finalised on receipt of legitimate accommodation claims.”
NSFAS said it will validate the list and process payments of legitimate claims, which might not have been paid through institutions and NSFAS payment service providers.
“In the current academic year, NSFAS is implementing measures to ensure certainty and clarity about claims and disbursements,” the statement said.
“As a result, the NSFAS Administrator urges all APs with 2024 outstanding claims, to send their claims to the following dedicated email address NSFASAccomProv@nsfas.org.za for further engagement with NSFAS.”
Meanwhile, many students have expressed their anxiety on social media.
Student Gift Zulu said: “NSFAS has made it a norm for us students to have anxiety this time of the year because we have to wait for their late payments every time.
“So, every year it’s the same frustration. Waiting whether they will give you the money or reject you… or cut off in the middle of the term.”
Another student Otlile Mokgautsi said: “It’s really stressful because currently, we need to register. We have held on to our portals.
“NSFAS is not replying, it’s not doing anything. Every time it’s still the same thing. It’s so stressful as a student.”
