NSFAS Non-Payment Pushes Landlords to Crisis

More than 150 landlords in Mpumalanga face financial ruin as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has failed to pay them for 2024 student accommodation.

Contracted to provide housing for University of Mpumalanga (UMP) students, the landlords—under the Mpumalanga Accommodation Service Association (Masa)—are struggling with mounting debts, unpaid mortgages, and staff salaries.

“We thought we were investing in a stable business,” said Masa chairperson Robert Dlamini. “Instead, we are expected to provide services without compensation while our businesses collapse.”

Despite months of pleas, NSFAS only responded after media exposure, making partial payments to just 20 out of 150 landlords. Some have begun eviction processes, warning that students will be forced out if payments aren’t settled by month-end.

Student Dineo Nyakane, 22, owes R14,000 from last year and was required to pay R7,000 upfront before registering. “I had to beg relatives for help just to be accepted,” she said.

UMP spokesperson Tlangelani Ubisi confirmed that students with outstanding debt from 2023 cannot register, even if they have NSFAS funding for 2024.

Parliament’s higher education committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, called for urgent action, saying, “Students should not be struggling with accommodation and funding when NSFAS should have resolved these issues.”