Determined not to give up on his dream of becoming a teacher, University of KwaZulu-Natal student Lindokuhle Nxumalo has resorted to living in a shack because his application for financial aid was rejected and he is unable to find accommodation on campus.
Nxumalo, a third-year student at the university's Edgewood campus near Pinetown, was turned down for funding by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) because of missing documents.
Unable to afford formal housing for the 2023 academic year, the 24-year-old is living in a one-bedroom shack in the Banana City informal settlement, a few kilometres from the university's Westville campus.
“It's very difficult to secure accommodation at the university. The problem is that the university is saying the residences are fully occupied yet they are still pushing to register more students,” said Nxumalo.
He said he had resubmitted the missing documents.
“I am pinning my hopes on the SRC [student representative council] who have written an email to the officials in the housing department.
“I can't be enthusiastic because I know these officials are being flooded with students who share the same plight,” said Nxumalo.
Last year Nxumalo, from Pietermaritzburg, secured accommodation at a residence in Durban. He says his parents cannot afford private accommodation.
We know that it's impossible to study without decent shelter.
— SRC president Wandile Majozi
Nxumalo is one of scores of students who have had to scramble to find a place to live as the demand for student housing grows.
Earlier this week mayhem erupted when hundreds of students protested over the shortage of student housing, forcing the university to cancel some classes. Last month two vehicles and a building were set alight.
Students are demanding the university resolve the crisis which has left more than 2,000 without accommodation.
SRC president Wandile Majozi said: “All the private accommodation [establishments] are full. We have first years who are without housing and indicated in their application that they require accommodation. They all received firm offers.”
He accused management of not taking charge of an alleged administrative bungle.
“The system crashed and some of the returning students were stripped of their housing allocation. We know that it's impossible to study without decent shelter.”
Fourth-year BSc student Nothile Mkhungo, 24, from Highflats on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, said the start of her academic year had been tough because she registered late and was unsure where she would live as she had not secured accommodation.
“I don't know where I will sleep tonight because I can't afford the travelling costs from my relative's home in Umbumbulu — R120 is too much,” said Mkhungo. She has not been able to attend lectures regularly because of travelling costs.
University spokesperson Normah Zondo said a 102-bed residence was expected to open in June at the Edgewood campus.
Zondo said two residences had been earmarked for the Pietermaritzburg and Howard College campuses.
“It is hoped that these residences will be available in 2024.
“The university houses 19,000 students compared to the 16,482 accommodated in 2022. The university received 23,500 applications for accommodation.”
She said students who had not made prior housing arrangements were accommodated at a building owned by the health department near Addington Hospital on South Beach. She said it was a temporary arrangement which ended last week.
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