Highlights
- From 2026, NSFAS will only fund students living in accredited housing.
- Minister Manamela says stricter rules are to protect students from unsafe conditions.
- Many students have complained about poor, overcrowded, and unregulated housing.
- Government will work with institutions, communities, and private providers to expand safe options.
- NSFAS 2026 applications are open until 25 November 2025.
New rules for student housing
NSFAS 2026 comes with a major change for student accommodation. Minister Buti Manamela announced that the scheme will only cover accredited housing starting next year. The decision is aimed at ending the cycle of unsafe, overpriced, and overcrowded housing that has affected thousands of beneficiaries in recent years.
“Too many learners still live in unsafe and undignified conditions,” Manamela said. “We are working with institutions, communities, and the private sector to accelerate accredited accommodation and to eliminate confusion around who pays, who administers, and when.”
Why the change matters
The housing crisis has been one of NSFAS’s biggest failures. Many students funded by NSFAS have been forced into unsafe buildings or informal rooms without proper facilities. Others faced delays because landlords were not paid on time.
By restricting funding to accredited housing, the department hopes to:
- Ensure that all NSFAS students live in safe, regulated spaces.
- Improve monitoring of landlords and payment systems.
- End disputes about who qualifies for housing allowances.
Will there be enough housing?
The minister admitted that demand is still greater than supply. With more than 235,000 new first-year university students and 170,000 TVET students expected in 2026, accommodation shortages are likely to continue.
Government says it is working with universities, TVET colleges, municipalities, and private providers to speed up the accreditation process and expand capacity. But for now, competition for housing will remain fierce.
Applications for NSFAS 2026 are open on the myNSFAS portal and will close on 25 November 2025. Students are urged to apply early and start planning accommodation as soon as possible.