Dear Editor
The DA notes the recent announcement by NSFAS that it is conducting a legal review into its student accommodation management and third-party partnerships. While this step is welcome, it comes far too late for the thousands of students who have already endured evictions, unsafe living conditions, and severe academic disruption due to delayed or missing housing payments.
This review is an implicit admission of systemic failure yet NSFAS has failed to provide critical details on how it will be conducted, including:
- What exactly is being reviewed, in terms of contract awards, partner performance, accreditation criteria?
- Who is conducting the review, when did it start, and when will it conclude?
- Will the findings and recommendations be made public?
- When can students and institutions expect concrete outcomes?
The DA has therefore submitted urgent Parliamentary Questions demanding that NSFAS disclose the full scope, timeline, appointing authority, and reporting process for the review.
If this process is genuine and not simply a stalling tactic NSFAS should have no hesitation in committing to full openness and accountability.
Students cannot continue to bear the cost of NSFAS’s mismanagement. Public funds must be used to secure safe, quality student housing and not vanish into dysfunctional systems and incoherent processes.
Regards
Matlhodi Maseko MP
DA Spokesperson on Higher Education & Training