Students scramble to find accommodation

STUDENTS who benefit from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are struggling to secure student accommodation and are worried that they will be left homeless when the new academic year starts at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) on February 20.

Students were informed in December that preference would be given to first-year students, those with disabilities, student leaders and vulnerable students, while the rest would have to seek accommodation on off-campus accredited sites.

Students said that the places were fully booked when they enquired or were told that rooms or units have already been earmarked for specific students.

“The majority of second- to fourth-year students are struggling to find accommodation. It is difficult to search for a place if you do not stay in Kimberley. We want to attend in-person classes but this will not be possible without a decent place to stay.”

A final-year student added that she had found a single room where the owner indicated that she was waiting for accreditation.

“A group of students approached the SPU residence manager to check if it would indeed be accredited, only to later find out that our names were removed from the list of eligible students as the rooms would be given to other students.

“We thought that it was supposed to be allocated on a firstcome, first-served basis. Something fishy is going on and we are all stressed about accommodation.”

The director of institutional advancement at SPU, Qondakele Sompondo, explained that the allocation of spaces had not been finalised yet.

“We are unable to provide specific numbers but we can confirm that there is no shortage of space for students both on and off campus.”

He added that priority was given to first-year students, student mentors who provide educational and psycho-socio support to these students and students with disabilities.

“Upon recommendation from a social worker, students who come from very challenging backgrounds within the Kimberley area are also recommended to reside on campus.”

He added that the university was growing at a rapid rate, while they were been guided by student housing policies governing public universities.

“Thus the expansion of accommodation is deemed important. We accredit accommodation in the city which is within 20 kilometres of the nearest campus. The accommodation office has a responsibility that students funded by NSFAS, self-funded, or funded with a bursary reside in compliant residences that are conducive to living and learning.”

Sompondo added that they aimed to provide 30 percent of beds to full-time contact students who enter the institution for the first time.

“As the university strives to meet its annual enrolment target, so does it align itself to the requirements of the provision of safe and conducive accommodation.

“Students that choose to stay off-campus are not placed by the Accredited Off-campus Accommodation (AOCA) office. The AOCA office is merely responsible to accredit buildings and publish the list of accredited accommodation that meets the full requirements.”

He urged students “to remain calm and trust the process” as there was “sufficient space” for students in accredited off-campus accommodation.

“While we understand the concern, it is not necessary to press the panic button. There is enough space for all our students.”