POTCHEFSTROOM STUDENTS FACE SILENT HOUSING CRISIS DAILY

James Klusener 

@jamesklusener

 

Accommodation is an essential aspect of university life, but it is something we don’t often give enough attention to. Prospective students worry about registration fees, tuition, and securing funding, and accommodation remains an afterthought – until it isn’t. Largely unnoticed, but felt harshly by those who experience it firsthand, is the accommodation crisis in Potchefstroom. 

 

Despite all the buildings you may see offering student accommodation, and the fact that it feels like every second building is designated for students, there is still a severe housing shortage, not to mention the entirely different beast: NSFAS and deposits. The numbers paint a sad picture, and a cruel reality. There aren’t enough beds, it’s not easy to get an accommodation, and in some cases, it’s too expensive. 

 

According to the official NWU accreditation list of private accommodations, there are roughly 8 719 beds available – not accounting for unofficial accommodation – yet they are still not nearly enough for the amount of students that attend the NWU in Potchefstroom. Accommodations can cost anywhere between R4 000 and R6 000 per month, with some even going for R10 000 or more. Not to mention the inconsistent amenities offered by various accommodations. Some do not include WiFi, electricity or water, despite charging such high prices.

 

Now, not only do they have to worry about all the challenges that come with being a student, but they also need to concern themselves with their electricity units, because everyone’s dream is to estimate how much electricity they’re going to need during finals.

 

Moreover, not all accommodations are close to campus, leaving students that aren’t fortunate enough to have their own means of transportation stuck. They have to either rely on transportation provided by their accommodation, walk, or make use of ride hailing services, which can become expensive. 

 

Then there’s the issues of NSFAS and all the unreliability associated with it. This year, the NWU has been slow to roll out NSFAS payments to students in desperate need of the funding. Delays in NSFAS funding aren’t the only issue regarding accommodation, as many student accommodations require deposits to be made way in advance – often as early as the 14th of January up until early February –  well before any NSFAS allowances reflect in students’ bank accounts.

 

Which then begs the question; if this is the case, what are students supposed to do? And why is no one talking about it? Well, whilst many other university campuses such as UCT, Stellenbosch and Wits, have addressed their housing concerns, the students of NWU Potchefstroom campus have been suffering in silence. We have yet to see any mass demonstrations on a similar scale to these other institutions.  

 

After hearing from a few students who are faced with these issues, the sentiment continues. Many of those who have secured accommodation, fear eviction if NSFAS funding is delayed. This is obviously very unsettling, and can disrupt one’s academic path completely. Moreover, securing accommodation has also proven to be a source of great difficulty for some, with students saying that the delays in funding have caused them to lose out on a place to stay, as they were unable to put down a deposit. These challenges have also amounted to a huge source of stress for students who are still unable to find accommodation. 

 

Now people are asking; What can be done? Who is to blame? What are the solutions? These are all valid questions to be asking our institutions, but they are of little use when a student wishing to get a degree in pursuit of a better life is struggling to succeed simply because they have nowhere to sleep.

 

Edited by Mignon Walters