Deputy minister intervenes after accommodation crisis at Westcol
Student concerns have prompted urgent intervention, with authorities pledging to ensure that those affected receive the support they need.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim visited Western TVET College’s (Westcol) Krugersdorp West Campus on July 29 following reports that more than 60 students had been evicted from their accommodation because of delayed National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payments.
The oversight visit formed part of the department’s efforts to assess the impact of the payment delays and identify immediate interventions.
Accompanied by NSFAS officials, Cassim met with affected students, college management and other stakeholders to determine the extent of the crisis.
The visit followed complaints received through the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk from students who said they had been instructed not to return to their residences after the July recess because accommodation providers had not been paid since the start of the academic year. As a result, many students missed classes and experienced significant hardship.
During the engagement, students also raised concerns about the standard of their accommodation, including unreliable transport to campus, intermittent water and electricity supply, and poor living conditions.
Following discussions, NSFAS acknowledged inconsistencies in accommodation payments during 2026 and committed to settling all outstanding amounts owed to the accommodation provider. The department also confirmed that temporary accommodation had been secured for about 62 affected students while permanent arrangements were finalised.
Several interventions were announced after the visit. Students currently in temporary accommodation are expected to be placed in accredited NSFAS accommodation by the end of the following week.
NSFAS will also deploy a dedicated accommodation team to Westcol to resolve outstanding administrative issues, including disputes over metro and non-metro accommodation rates.
In addition, the Student Representative Council will compile a list of accommodation facilities requiring urgent attention, while NSFAS will establish a direct escalation channel with the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk to speed up the resolution of future accommodation-related complaints.
Speaking after the visit, Cassim reaffirmed the department’s commitment to protecting students’ right to education.
“No student should lose academic time or be left without shelter because of administrative failures. I will continue to hold all parties accountable and closely monitor the implementation of the agreed timelines.”
Authorities said they will continue monitoring the implementation of the agreed interventions until all affected students have been placed in safe, accredited accommodation.
