The Public Protector has launched a separate systemic inquiry into student accommodation after inspections at a number of higher education institutions uncovered unsafe and inadequate living conditions.
Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka addressed the findings during a press briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, where she provided an update on a larger systemic probe into maladministration in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The new investigation into student housing
The Public Protector’s office will begin a new systemic investigation into student accommodation, focusing specifically on:
- the administration of accommodation allowances
- accreditation of private student accommodation
- the potential for fraud and student exploitation
- or instability in private student accommodation
This will determine the extent of the concerns uncovered during inspections, as well as any deficiencies in the systems of government and institutions overseeing student housing.
Gcaleka noted that the Public Protector’s office had not yet concluded its findings or issued official statements on the accommodation concerns.
Why the student accommodation investigation matters
Student housing has become a critical pillar in the financial support system for higher education students, as many students who are reliant on financial aid find it challenging to cover the costs of living while studying.
The Public Protector’s office has noted that inspections conducted as part of the larger NSFAS probe turned up alarming concerns at a number of institutions.
Rather than addressing these issues as part of the larger NSFAS maladministration investigation, the Public Protector’s office decided to initiate a separate systemic inquiry.
This will determine whether concerns with student housing represent isolated incidents, or whether there are inadequacies in policy or government systems that warrant investigation for maladministration or improper conduct.
Gcaleka also noted that student accommodation concerns could not be deferred to a later date, as students’ needs must be addressed.
The new student accommodation investigation will focus on allowances and private accommodation
The Public Protector’s inquiry will review a number of areas pertaining to student accommodation, including:
- the administration of accommodation allowances
- delays in the payment of accommodation allowances
- accreditation of private student accommodation
- verification of private student accommodation
- fraud
- exploitation of students
- student instability
This comes after concerns were raised during the Public Protector’s inspections of various higher education institutions as part of the larger NSFAS investigation.
Separate from Public Protector findings on NSFAS funding
The Public Protector’s findings on student accommodation come after the Office of the Public Protector uncovered systemic challenges in the funding practices of NSFAS.
The Public Protector’s report noted that students who had completed their courses of study found themselves unable to access their qualifications due to outstanding NSFAS accounts.
In one such case, the Public Protector’s office noted that 12 students had been denied access to their qualifications, with their NSFAS accounts each underpaid by R601 000.
This meant that although the students had successfully completed their studies, they were unable to obtain their qualifications due to the financial dispute.
The Public Protector’s office intervened, and the accounts were eventually cleared.
Public Protector concerned with students unable to access qualifications
Gcaleka noted that the Public Protector’s office was deeply concerned with the detrimental effects such financial practices could have on students, particularly those who had completed their studies.
Students unable to access their qualifications upon graduation could be unable to pursue further studies or employment, particularly if they needed the qualification to secure a job.
The Public Protector has called on the Minister of Higher Education and Training and tertiary institutions to review their student financial aid practices, including their approach to student debt recovery.
The Public Protector’s recommendations suggest that institutions take a less prejudicial approach to recovering student debt while still reserving the right to recover the outstanding amounts.
The recommendations suggest that graduates be able to access the qualifications they have earned and enter the labour market, while institutions can recover the outstanding amounts from students who are able to secure employment.
Public service qualification verification could assist graduates
Gcaleka noted that the Public Protector’s office was also concerned with the impact on graduates, particularly those who had been unable to access their qualifications.
She noted that the recent announcement by the Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in 2024 which requires public service employers to verify qualifications using verified academic records, rather than physical copies of the qualification, could offer a solution.
According to Gcaleka, this could offer a workaround for graduates whose qualification had been withheld due to student debt.
Students who are unable to access their physical qualification could utilise the DPSA verification process and submit confirmation letters and transcripts for qualification verification.
Institutions should conduct certificate audit
The Public Protector’s office has called on tertiary institutions to conduct an audit of the qualifications currently withheld from students.
These institutions should also provide the Public Protector’s office with information on graduates affected by the unavailability of their qualifications, including:
- outstanding amounts
- the year the student graduated
- the qualifications withheld
This will allow for an accurate assessment of the impact on graduates as well as appropriate measures to address the situation.
Higher Education Minister welcomes Public Protector’s findings
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela welcomed the latest findings by the Public Protector.
Manamela noted that government interventions in relation to NSFAS were aimed at protecting students and supporting institutions providing financial aid to students.
He reiterated the importance of NSFAS, noting that it plays a critical role in enabling students to access post-school education and training who would otherwise be unable to do so.
Manamela noted that the interventions were aimed at ensuring students received the support they needed without unnecessary administrative hurdles in place.
What the new accommodation investigation will establish
The Public Protector’s systemic investigation into student accommodation now needs to determine whether the concerns unveiled during inspections are indicative of a larger systemic issue.
Among the issues likely to be reviewed are the administration of allowances, accreditation of private student accommodation, and whether current safeguards are sufficient to prevent exploitation or instability among students.
The Public Protector’s office will also need to determine whether any of the deficiencies identified constitute maladministration or improper conduct on the part of relevant entities.
Since the Public Protector’s office has only launched this new systemic investigation, the concerns identified during inspections should not be regarded as conclusive.
What students should take away from the announcement
For students who rely on financial aid and accommodation support, the announcement of the new Public Protector investigation is concerning, as it highlights weaknesses in the systems designed to support them.
However, students should understand that the Public Protector’s office has yet to establish conclusive findings in relation to concerns with student accommodation.
Gcaleka has noted that the new systemic investigation will establish the extent and nature of the concerns, as well as their root causes.
As such, students utilising institutional or funding mechanisms should continue to use the relevant channels to address their concerns while the Public Protector’s office reviews the situation.
A larger issue in student funding
The issues with NSFAS funding and student qualifications illustrate the complexity of the financial support system for higher education students in South Africa.
For students unable to afford the costs of higher education, this system plays a vital role in facilitating their access to post-school studies.
Students who are reliant on NSFAS funding to meet their tuition fees face additional barriers in terms of funding their living costs while studying.
The findings of the Public Protector’s office in relation to NSFAS funding and student qualifications illustrate the ways in which students’ lives can be negatively impacted by systemic issues.
The separate Public Protector investigation into student accommodation will highlight whether similar challenges exist for students seeking to fund their living costs while studying.
What happens next?
The Public Protector’s office will conduct the new systemic investigation into student accommodation, reviewing the relevant administrative systems and determining the extent and cause of the concerns identified during inspections.
Meanwhile, the Public Protector’s office has called on the Minister of Higher Education and Training and tertiary institutions to review their student financial aid practices, including their approach to student debt recovery, within 90 days of receiving this report.
The recommendations in relation to students’ qualifications will also enable the relevant institutions to conduct a more thorough audit of the impact on graduates.
Editorial note
The Public Protector’s investigation into student accommodation is ongoing, which means the concerns identified during inspections are preliminary.
This article differentiates between the concerns raised by the Public Protector’s office and the findings that have thus far been officially released.
Sources
Office of the Public Protector
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
Department of Higher Education and Training
Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA)
