Some South African student accommodation properties exhibit quality and maintenance challenges as not all residences are well-maintained by their landlords.

Responding to Independent Media Property’s media enquiry recently, Dr Marcia Socikwa, the Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Universities at the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) said the department through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has developed the minimum norms and standards for private accommodation as well as the NSFAS standard terms and conditions for private accommodation providers to regulate private student accommodation.

She said in terms of the regulations, the Private Accommodation Provider (PAP) consents to NSFAS’s unrestricted access to the accredited premises for unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with minimum norms and standards and the standard terms and conditions for private accommodation providers.

“Furthermore, to ensure a safe, affordable and accessible student accommodation NSFAS considers the applications by PAPs for accreditation, by grading successful applicants in accordance with the grading criteria developed by NSFAS and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

"It is also important to indicate that, for the purposes of application of these regulations, the PAP must conclude a Standard Lease Agreement with the NSFAS beneficiary, which is the basis for NSFAS pay for the accommodation allowance,” Socikwa said.

To further deal with issues of health and safety, DHET said Private Student Accommodation providers must comply with all of the legislative requirements (national, regional and municipal) regulating health and safety at all times.

It added that collaboration between the public and private sector, as well as better monitoring of the minimum norms and standards, will improve the challenges facing student accommodation.

The department added that not all residences are supported by requisite security.

Socikwa said South Africa’s student accommodation properties this year are better organised and regulated than previously.

She said the policy on the minimum norms and standards for student housing is now being applied more consistently.

“The aim of the policy on the minimum norms and standards for student housing is to regulate the provision of on- and off-campus student housing. The norms and standards are applied at all public universities and university-accredited student housing providers across the sector,” Socikwa said.

The DDG said the application of these norms and standards will ensure that students are provided with adequate, fit-for-purpose accommodation of reasonable quality and enjoy learning and living environments that promote academic success.

“The policy is implemented when planning specifications for the building of new student housing and where practical, the refurbishment and renovation of existing student housing.

"Furthermore, student housing provides for universal access for students with disabilities, and all reasonable measures are taken to ensure that disability is incorporated into the design of new residences.”

DHET said late payments to landlords was another challenge, and the NSFAS Administrator is busy addressing this issue.

Another challenge cited by DHET was the issue of insufficient bed space in the higher education sector.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), a development finance institution, has been roped in to assist the higher education and training sector with the development of more bed space.

“The department has a student housing infrastructure programme that seeks to build 300 000 beds by 2032. The programme is managed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. It is currently in phase two of implementation. This intervention will address the supply-demand imbalances,” Socikwa said.

Ishmael Mnisi, the spokesperson for NSFAS, concurred that the major challenge relates to the demand and the market supply of student accommodation.

He said that, as far as the government is concerned, this is perpetuated by fiscal constraints.

“However, the Department of Higher Education and Training, with support from National Treasury, has allocated R5.7 billion for phase 2 of the Student Housing Infrastructure Programme (SHIP) student accommodation.

"The Department has a Student Housing Infrastructure programme that aims to build 300 000 beds by 2032. The programme is managed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. It is currently in phase 2 of implementation,” Mnisis said.

The student financial aid provider said in phase one, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) received an additional 1 836 beds, the University of Fort Hare (UFH) was earmarked for 1 427 beds, North-West University(NWU) with 1 728 beds, University of the Western Cape(UWC) with 2 720 beds and Nelson Mandela University with 1 998 beds.

Mnisi said phase 2 aims to complete 17 200 beds for R5.7 billion. “Phase 3 is still in planning and is going through approval processes. It targets to build 45 000 beds.”

NSFAS said the proposed delivery model incorporates strategies that recognise the contribution of private developers in the provision of student accommodations.

“It seeks to engage private developers to build student accommodation on institution-owned land (Concession Development Model ). In addition, it also encourages the construction of student beds on privately owned land (Privately-Owned Land Development).

As far as NSFAS is concerned, NSFAS will continue to call all student accommodation providers to join in providing quality housing for NSFAS students,” Mnisi said.

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New standards for student accommodation in South Africa: ensuring quality and safety