The drama continues to brew over student lodging in Nelson Mandela Bay, with property owners still waiting to be paid for February and March.
Students in Nelson Mandela Bay face the risk of homelessness if the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) fails to promptly settle its outstanding payments to accommodation providers.
It is a dire situation that could quickly ignite a political storm if students are evicted.
But who can blame the landlords as they continue to cover costs for Wi-Fi, electricity, water and cleaning services?
Some owners have not received feedback on assessments conducted, nor have they been informed of their accreditation status.
Earlier in 2024, NSFAS started a pilot project on student accommodation, featuring a housing portal managed by Profecia IT in the Eastern Cape.
The scheme announced in the previous year its intention to assume the accreditation of residence owners or accommodation providers, a responsibility previously held by higher learning institutions.
But since the start of the year, owners say they have received conflicting statements from NSFAS, Profecia IT and institutions of higher learning.
This and the non-payments have led to threats of cutting services, while others consider evictions.
The problem is that non-payments have been an issue for years, which is rather strange.
NSFAS must know that students will need accommodation every year. It is a no-brainer.
There has been much uncertainty created as some owners were registered with Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and others with NSFAS.
A lot of the owners depend on these payments. It is their livelihood. They are faced with a financial crisis.
NMU spokesperson Zandile Ngwendu told The Herald payments were a challenge every year, adding it was a sector-wide issue.
“The university will be making the payment for the February and March period to the service providers.”
But this was never communicated properly to the owners.
They remain in the dark about their situation.
It is unfair and more effort must be made by all parties involved.
Landlords should not be forced to keep covering services with no payment in return.
HeraldLIVE