“VUT and NSFAS met to review the NSFAS Student Accommodation Model, focusing on student safety, accreditation, governance and improved accommodation standards.”
20 July 2026 | Story by: Tayron Mhlongo | Picture: Sfiso Nomzaza
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT), led by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Khehla Ndlovu, convened a strategic meeting with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in Johannesburg on 16 July 2026 to review the future of student accommodation. Discussions focused on strengthening student safety, governance, accreditation and improving the quality of accommodation provided to NSFAS-funded students.
The meeting reviewed key aspects of the NSFAS Student Accommodation Model, including student welfare, housing quality, complaints management, operational performance, placement and allocation processes, compliance monitoring, payment administration and the performance of New Dawn Technologies, the service provider responsible for aspects of the NSFAS student accommodation management system.
Professor Ndlovu described the review as constructive and solution focused.
“In as much as we believe that we could do better in the context of current arrangements, that’s where we want to talk about,” he said.
He encouraged an open assessment of the current model, asking whether existing arrangements should continue, what improvements were necessary to strengthen service delivery, and what the University would need to prepare should a new model be adopted. He reaffirmed VUT’s commitment to ensuring that students have access to safe accommodation that enables them to focus on their academic success.
NSFAS Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula echoed the importance of finding practical solutions through collaboration.
“We’re not avoiding you because if we avoid you, the issues don’t go away and the issues remain and small little things become big,” he said.
He emphasised NSFAS’s commitment to working closely with institutions to develop solutions that balance accountability with effective service delivery.
The meeting also reflected on lessons learnt from the NSFAS accommodation pilot and considered VUT’s proposal to resume accreditation responsibilities. Participants examined the University’s readiness to assume a greater role in accommodation management while debating the governance framework that should underpin the future operating model. The objective was to establish a system that strengthens accountability, monitoring and quality assurance while addressing the shortcomings identified in the current model.
Student safety emerged as one of the most significant themes of the engagement. Dr Gugulethu Xaba, Director of Student Support Services (SSS), highlighted the University’s limited authority over privately owned accommodation, noting that this creates challenges in protecting students and responding effectively to welfare concerns.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Resources and Operations Mr S’celo Mahlalela reinforced those concerns by referring to the recent tragic death of a VUT student residing in off-campus accommodation. The University subsequently played a leading role in supporting the student’s family, engaging the community and working with relevant authorities. The discussion reflected a shared recognition that effective accommodation governance is not merely an administrative responsibility but one that directly affects student safety, wellbeing and academic success.
Professor Mathebula responded with a two-part appeal. While reaffirming NSFAS’s willingness to support institutions wherever possible, he stressed that universities should prioritise their own residences as the preferred accommodation option for students.
He also warned of a growing market distortion surrounding VUT, where some private accommodation providers advertise capacity far beyond the number of students they actually accommodate. For example, certain facilities claim to accommodate approximately 100 students despite housing only about 25. Such practices, he cautioned, increase safety and security risks.
“Security is also critical but there must be standards,” he said.
Professor Mathebula urged closer collaboration between VUT’s Student Support Services and NSFAS’s Head of Accommodation to address these concerns. He was explicit about the consequences, stating that private accommodation providers that fail to rectify identified risks would lose accreditation and would no longer be eligible to accommodate NSFAS-funded students.
Operational matters also featured prominently during the discussions. Delegates reviewed complaints and grievance mechanisms, payment administration processes, accreditation procedures and the performance of New Dawn Technologies. They further explored opportunities to strengthen compliance monitoring and improve placement and allocation systems through more transparent processes, timely information sharing and clearly defined institutional responsibilities.
Throughout the engagement, VUT outlined initiatives to strengthen its on-campus accommodation capacity and enhance student support services, while NSFAS reviewed which oversight functions should remain centralised and which could be delegated to institutions. The discussions highlighted the need for a governance model that balances national oversight with institutional accountability while maintaining consistent accommodation standards and the ability to respond quickly when those standards are compromised.
By the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to continue working together on a future operating model that balances NSFAS oversight with stronger university stewardship of student welfare. The proposed framework will incorporate robust accreditation processes, enhanced compliance mechanisms and enforceable standards for private accommodation providers.
As VUT prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the meeting reaffirmed the University’s commitment to ensuring that every student has access to safe, quality accommodation that supports academic success and personal wellbeing. The continued collaboration between VUT and NSFAS signals a shared determination to strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and place student welfare at the centre of student accommodation management.