Students Disrupt Classes Amid Housing Crisis

Students at universities across the country protested and disrupted classes on Monday amid an ongoing student housing crisis.

Universities are unable to provide enough housing for all students in need. Students relying on NSFAS funding for private accommodation are battling a dysfunctional online accommodation platform, and there are reportedly not enough NSFAS-approved accommodation facilities to meet the demand.

Some students report that private accommodation owners are demanding deposits or rental top-ups, which are not allowed by NSFAS.

At the University of the Western Cape UWC, hundreds of students have been sleeping in the universitys student centre. We are forced to occupy overcrowded, unsafe, and precarious living conditions, said first year student Athini Mvelase, who travelled from the Eastern Cape and has been living in the universitys student centre for the past two weeks.