Larger Schooling and Coaching Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, says the Nationwide Pupil Monetary Support Scheme (NSFAS) should act swiftly in opposition to the exploitation of susceptible college students by landlords.

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This follows media reviews that some landlords demand sexual favours from college students in trade for lodging.

Manamela mentioned the exploitation of susceptible college students by landlords was deplorable and deeply worrying.

“I welcome the robust assertion by NSFAS condemning these actions and the decisive steps to analyze, blacklist, and terminate the providers of any implicated landlords,” Manamela mentioned.

He emphasised the necessity for larger accountability and oversight in scholar lodging.

He mentioned establishments, together with lodging supplier associations, NSFAS, and the Division of Larger Schooling and Coaching should work collectively to make sure that college students are housed in secure, dignified environments, free from exploitation and abuse.

Manamela urged the affected college students to report circumstances of exploitation instantly to their establishments, NSFAS and legislation enforcement.

“We is not going to tolerate anybody who preys on college students,” he mentioned.

Progress on scholar registration and monetary support 

Whereas the reviews of landlord abuse are disturbing, Manamela acknowledged that the general scholar registration course of for 2025 has been largely clean, with minor glitches which are being attended to.

NSFAS has taken measures to make sure that funded college students are registered with out monetary obstacles, together with: 

• No upfront registration charges for NSFAS-funded college students at public universities and TVET faculties.
• NSFAS close-out challenge college students (awaiting excellent charges from earlier years) have to be allowed to re-enrol, with establishments instructed to submit their particulars to NSFAS.
•  NSFAS Mortgage Scheme candidates who qualify ought to be allowed to register and safe lodging whereas documentation is finalised.
•  College students with excellent 2024 allocations ought to be permitted to register and graduate, with NSFAS dedicated to settling charges.

“We acknowledge issues over funding delays and are actively working with NSFAS and establishments to resolve these points as rapidly as doable,” Manamela assured.

Monitoring the educational 12 months

As delegated by the Minister of Larger Schooling and Coaching, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, to evaluate the progress of the educational 12 months and make sure that scholar issues are addressed, the Deputy Minister will over the following two week go to Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape and Gauteng.

“These visits will give us a chance to have interaction instantly with college students, institutional management, and NSFAS officers to make sure that registration, lodging, and monetary support points are correctly addressed,” Manamela mentioned.

College students in universities, together with Technical, Vocational, Schooling and Coaching Faculty (TVET) faculties, and Neighborhood Schooling and Coaching (CET) faculties have been urged to report unsafe lodging, if they’re experiencing exploitation or unsafe circumstances, to their establishment’s scholar affairs workplace, and to NSFAS helpline: 0800 067 327 / information@nsfas.org.za.

“In case you are fighting registration or NSFAS-related funding points, contact NSFAS servicing groups deployed at establishments or have interaction your SRC for help. Most establishments present counselling providers and wellness packages. College students are inspired to make use of these assets.

“Our college students ought to by no means need to endure exploitation, abuse, or obstacles to their schooling. We are going to proceed working with all stakeholders to make sure a secure and supportive studying atmosphere for all,” Manamela mentioned.

Had been you conscious of such exploitation of scholars by landlords?

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