Tshwane TVET College Students Are Concerned About Shelter
Tshwane TVET College students are concerned about shelter, facing unprecedented uncertainty about their living conditions due to unresolved accommodation payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This dire situation has placed thousands of students—particularly from Tshwane South and Tshwane North TVET colleges—at risk of eviction, despite being legitimate NSFAS beneficiaries.
Mounting Pressure Due to Unpaid Accommodation Fees
The students claim that since the beginning of the 2025 academic year, NSFAS has failed to disburse funds to cover their accommodation expenses. This negligence has resulted in ongoing threats of eviction, as many students have already received ultimatums from their residence (res) managers. According to students, this issue has persisted for over four months with no resolution in sight.
Amukelani Mabasa, the Student Representative Council (SRC) President at Tshwane TVET College, has been vocal about this growing crisis. He emphasized that while university students have seemingly received priority for accommodation funding, college students have been left behind.
“NSFAS has not been paying for our accommodation and we’ve been getting messages from our res managers that we might get evicted,” said Mabasa. “Now it’s been four months without NSFAS paying.”
Protests Ignored Despite Growing Desperation
To express their frustrations and demand action, students organized protests in both March and April at the Department of Higher Education and Training. However, they claim that their pleas have been largely ignored.
Many of these students rely on NSFAS not only for tuition and living expenses but for their very ability to remain in the cities where their colleges are located. As most come from rural areas outside Gauteng, they are unfamiliar with the urban environment and cannot easily find alternative housing or employment to sustain themselves.
Summary of Key Financial Challenges Facing Students
| Issue | Description |
|---|---|
| Accommodation Payments Delayed | Students haven’t received NSFAS housing payments for 4+ months |
| Allowance Disbursement Issues | Monthly allowances have also been delayed since the academic year began |
| Confusion About Fund Allocation | Some students mistakenly used rent funds as allowances due to lack of clarity |
| Pressure from Res Managers | Students face eviction threats due to outstanding payments |
| Lack of Communication from NSFAS | Students were uninformed about the purpose of large deposits |
Students Left to Fend for Themselves
In many cases, students have been forced to pay for rent and groceries out of pocket, despite being NSFAS recipients. This financial burden is unrealistic for most students who come from underprivileged backgrounds.
Nikki Ndlhovu, a 22-year-old legal secretary student at Tshwane North TVET College, shared his distressing experience. Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, he knew little about Gauteng and relied on NSFAS guidance for accommodation. He was placed at Boikhutsong Residence in Tshwane’s CBD, but has since faced threats of eviction.
“What they are doing to us is painful because I am from far. I don’t know this place. I was made to choose this accommodation because I didn’t know where to go,” said Ndlhovu. “Now I’m being evicted and I have no money to go home or stay here.”
Like many others, Ndlhovu relies on his R1,700 monthly allowance not just for personal expenses but also to support his family back in KwaZulu-Natal.
NSFAS Communication Failures Fuel Confusion
A major part of the problem lies in NSFAS’s lack of transparent communication. Students like Carol Ntuli, a hospitality student at Tshwane North TVET College, reported receiving a lump sum payment of R13,000 into her bank account with no explanation. Thinking it was overdue allowance money, she used it to cover personal and family expenses.
Two weeks later, NSFAS clarified that the money was intended for accommodation, not allowance. By then, many students had already spent it.
“We immediately thought that the money was for allowance. Later, they told us to transfer R10,000 to our res providers,” said Ntuli. “But by then, I had already used it.”
This lack of proactive communication has only intensified the students’ financial hardships and mistrust in the system.
Forced Trade-offs: Rent Over Basic Needs
In an even more distressing turn, some students were coerced into using their long-overdue allowance payments to cover rent. Sarah Malebake, a 24-year-old Marketing student, reported receiving R5,100 over a weekend—a sum that corresponds to her accumulated allowance. However, residence officials insisted she use it for rent.
“According to us, those who need to receive R1,700 per month, the R5,100 adds up to the three months’ allowance we were owed,” she said. “But now we are being forced to use it for rent.”
This forced trade-off between food, transport, and shelter is unacceptable and unsustainable for students trying to focus on their academic progress.
Boycott Threats and Future Protest Plans
Frustrated by mismanagement and mistreatment, several students have suggested boycotting CBD residences entirely. Aluncedo Pakisi, a 24-year-old electrical infrastructure student, criticized the res management for treating them unfairly, blaming NSFAS for the delay.
“For future purposes, I think we should advise all the students not to come back to this residence, especially CBD residences,” said Pakisi.
Many students are calling for another mass demonstration to bring attention to the Tshwane TVET College Students Are Concerned About Shelter crisis. With earlier protests having been ignored, they believe more drastic measures may be necessary.
Widening Impact and Emotional Toll
The emotional and psychological toll of this crisis is not to be underestimated. Being locked out of their residences or threatened with eviction creates a hostile environment that is detrimental to learning. Some students had to contact the police just to access their rooms.
Karabo Tswai, a 21-year-old electrical engineering student, insisted that NSFAS must be held accountable for the emotional and financial turmoil they’ve inflicted on students.
“This thing is upsetting us as students because some of us come from very far. NSFAS must just take accountability,” Tswai said.
Conclusion
The fact that Tshwane TVET College students are concerned about shelter should serve as a red flag for the broader educational system in South Africa. These students represent the future of the country’s workforce, and yet they are being failed by the very institutions meant to support them.
