Over 7 000 students face eviction as NSFAS owes Housing Association

More than 7 000 students could be evicted from their accommodation, if the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) doesn’t prioritise their funding. NSFAS owes the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA) R44 million.

The body says they won’t be able to accommodate the students if the outstanding funds are not paid in 14 days. The Association is also unhappy with the NSFAS portal and rate uncertainties.

With just a few days left before the Higher Education institutions start the 2025 academic year. Private student housing bodies are left frustrated by NSFAS funding delays and students could be left compromised.

CEO of Private Student Housing Association Kagisho Mamabolo says, “We have more than 7 000 students that will be affected. These are students who are residing in our residents across the country, and I have no doubt that there could be more students affected, especially in the areas where the accommodation providers are not members of the PSHA. So, the number could be significantly higher.”

Many students are left anxious as their future hangs in the balance.

Student Gift Zulu says, “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.”

“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,” says another student Otlile Mokgautsi.

Initially, when the administrator was appointed, NSFAS owed about R200 million and 20 000 students were facing eviction. But a large amount is still outstanding.

“We are still owed R44 million. This is the amount that is only in 2024. We have submitted the list of all students to NSFAS. We sat down with them last year, they’ve done the audit. So, we are confident that the students that are on that list, are qualifying because they’ve been verified by NSFAS,” Mamabolo adds.

NSFAS has received over 900 000 applications for the 2025 academic year with many already provisionally approved. The pending applications are still under scrutiny.

“The validity of some of these claims are still being looked at,” says NSFAS Administrator Freeman Nomvalo.

And if NSFAS doesn’t come to the party, a bleak future awaits these students  – most of them depend solely on NSFAS because their parents can’t afford to pay.

Meanwhile, the delay in payments has attracted a lot of backlash, with political parties, student bodies and even parliament urging NSFAS to expedite funding to eligible students.