Minister Manamela's Urgent Call to Action on Provider Abuses
In a recent media engagement, South Africa's Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, directly confronted the growing concerns surrounding student accommodation. He highlighted that certain private accommodation providers are mistreating students, overcharging the department, and misrepresenting facts to exploit the system. This statement comes amid heightened scrutiny as the 2026 academic year unfolds, with thousands of university students across the country grappling with substandard living conditions. Manamela's remarks underscore the government's commitment to safeguarding vulnerable learners, particularly those reliant on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which funds nearly a million students annually.
The Minister's intervention builds on previous warnings, including a 2025 statement where he condemned landlords demanding sexual favours in exchange for housing—a deplorable practice that prompted calls for blacklisting offenders. Manamela urged NSFAS, institutions, and provider associations to collaborate in ensuring safe, dignified environments, emphasizing, "Our students should never have to endure exploitation, abuse, or barriers to their education."
This crisis is not isolated but symptomatic of deeper systemic challenges in South Africa's higher education sector, where rapid enrolment growth outpaces infrastructure development.
The Magnitude of South Africa's Student Housing Shortage
South Africa faces a staggering deficit of over 500,000 student beds, a figure projected to exceed 780,000 by mid-decade according to the World Bank's International Finance Corporation. Public universities currently accommodate only about 20% of their students on campus, forcing the majority—especially NSFAS beneficiaries—into private residences. For context, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) received nearly 100,000 accommodation applications for 2026 but has just 7,015 on-campus beds available.
At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), recent expansions will add over 5,000 beds by 2026, boosting capacity to 16,147, yet protests erupted at the start of the year over shortages, leaving hundreds stranded. Nationally, public universities host 1.1 million students, TVET colleges 527,000, and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges 130,000, with NSFAS supporting around 900,000 through bursaries and loans.
This shortfall exacerbates vulnerabilities, particularly for rural first-year students who arrive in urban centres without secured housing, often resorting to unsafe options. Enrolment pressures are intense: 626,935 first-time NSFAS applicants were provisionally eligible for 2026, alongside 427,144 continuing students.
- Over 500,000 bed shortage nationwide.
- Less than 20% on-campus occupancy.
- NSFAS approved 660,000 students for 2026, but only 55,000 accommodation applications processed from 194,000 received.
Prevalent Forms of Ill-Treatment by Accommodation Providers
Reports of abuses paint a grim picture. Beyond overcharging—where providers demand exorbitant deposits and admin fees beyond NSFAS caps—students endure squalid conditions like cockroach infestations and extreme overcrowding. At one TVET college, 32 students shared two ablution facilities, described as "degrading daily realities."
Sexual exploitation remains a shocking low: landlords coercing favours for tenancy, prompting Manamela's 2025 outrage and NSFAS investigations. Evictions due to NSFAS payment delays compound issues, with over 500 students locked out at Tshwane South TVET College. Fraud allegations, such as misusing NSFAS funds, further erode trust.
These practices not only violate basic human rights but also hinder academic success, as unsafe environments fuel stress, illness, and protests disrupting classes at institutions like Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
NSFAS's Framework for Private Accommodation
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)—a government initiative providing comprehensive bursaries covering tuition, allowances, and housing for low-income students—has introduced accreditation to combat abuses. Providers must register via NSFAS's portal, where experts inspect and grade properties for suitability.
For 2026, NSFAS launched a centralised database, paying allowances directly to accredited landlords, bypassing students to prevent mismanagement. Only accredited or provisionally accredited properties qualify, with processes digitised for efficiency. Despite settling debts like R48 million to 655 providers, delays persist, blamed partly on institutions and providers.
Caps exist: catered metro residences at R65,993 annually, but many exceed this, straining NSFAS budgets projected at R45 billion amid rising costs.Learn more on NSFAS accreditation
Photo by Ngan Huynh on Unsplash
Real-World Cases from South African Universities
At UWC, 4,000 students were recently stranded without beds, sparking protests despite expansions via public-private partnerships like the Kovacs Build-Operate-Transfer model. University of Mpumalanga students lamented poor conditions, while Sasolburg NSFAS-funded learners alleged landlord fraud.
Protests at CPUT and TVETs highlight NSFAS delays leading to street sleeping, with providers accused of charging beyond allowances. Fort Hare's unrest tied to broader governance but echoed housing woes.
| University | Applications | Beds Available |
|---|---|---|
| UJ | 100,000 | 7,015 |
| UWC (post-expansion) | N/A | 16,147 |
Government Initiatives and Institutional Efforts
Manamela's "War Room"—comprising DHET, NSFAS, universities, colleges, and students—meets weekly to resolve issues like accreditation and payments. It acts as an early-warning system against disruptions. NSFAS reprioritised R13.3 billion for blocked registrations and is reforming funding sustainably.
Universities cap fees at 4.15% and accommodation at 5.7% for 2026. Partnerships accelerate accredited beds, with norms for safety and GBV prevention. Read the full readiness statement
- Blacklisting exploitative landlords.
- Direct payments to accredited providers.
- Ministerial Task Teams for infrastructure.
Profound Impacts on Students and Higher Education
Unsafe housing correlates with higher dropout rates, mental health crises, and violence. Rural students face culture shock, arriving to full residences and predatory landlords. NSFAS delays exacerbate poverty, with 190,000 students failing progression criteria despite approvals.
Protests disrupt learning, as seen nationwide, while poor conditions impair focus—vital for South Africa's youth facing 32% unemployment.
Diverse Stakeholder Perspectives
Students via SAUS demand better transport and health services alongside housing. DA criticises NSFAS betrayal, calling for interventions. Providers seek timely payments, while OUTA flags corruption. Manamela balances by praising smooth registrations but condemning abuses.
Photo by Frederik Schalkwijk on Unsplash
Pathways Forward: Solutions and 2026 Outlook
Solutions include scaling accredited private housing, university expansions, and NSFAS digital portals. Medium-term reforms aim for fiscal sustainability amid R14 billion shortfalls. Private investment via PSHA could fill gaps if rates stabilise.
Outlook: With War Room agility, 2026 could stabilise, but sustained funding is key. Explore higher ed career opportunities or advice for educators tackling these issues.
Practical Advice for Students and Parents
Report abuses to institutions, NSFAS, or police. Verify accreditation before signing. Apply early via myNSFAS. Rural families: Confirm placement and housing first. For jobs in uni admin, visit SA higher ed jobs on AcademicJobs.com. Rate your professors to share experiences.
- Check NSFAS portal for accredited housing.
- Use institutional wellness services.
- Explore TVET/CET alternatives with 527,000+ spaces.
