DA will PAIA details of NSFAS shack landlords

The DA will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain the details of the contracts issued to landlords of informal settlements (shacks) regarded as “student accommodation” in Madalabara, Limpopo where National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funded students of the Letaba TVET College, reside.

Despite the evidence of the DA’s hybrid oversight to the informal settlement and our engagement with numerous students, NSFAS has tried to deny this fact, while students are forced to suffer the reality of the inhumane conditions.

Our PAIA application will reveal whether the Madalabara accommodations form part of the 65.64% of unaccredited accommodations? Or worse, that NSFAS saw fit to accredit these accommodations and wilfully allowed students to suffer this way.

Given the high cost of living and the tremendous obstacles many students have to overcome to achieve their dreams of higher education, one would think that NSFAS would do its best to ensure that they make that difficult road smoother, not roll more boulders in the way.

This denial shows just how uncaring Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, and his Ministry are towards the plight of students. The DA remains committed to fighting to ensure that there is no student left behind.