Crisis in student accommodation

Making it to varsity or tertiary level should be a dream come true and something to be celebrated. But unfortunately for most of us who come from impoverished backgrounds, it can turn out to be the worst nightmare one can ever imagine due to a lack of accommodation on campus. Upon watching Daily Thetha, a programme aired on SABC1 on January 31 last year, the shocking problem affecting our varsity students was highlighted.

The NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme], which is responsible for students’ bursaries, seems not to be helping matters. It seems to just let students go out and fend for themselves, leaving them vulnerable and prey to criminals who take advantage of their dire situation. Can you imagine throwing someone in a pool’s deep end yet knowing very well that person can’t swim to begin with?

It’s worse for girls as they are often left with no choice but to swap their bodies in exchange for food, cosmetics, clothing and shelter.

It’s a matter of forced indirect prostitution as a means of survival. Who can blame them?

Elinye nelinye ixoxo liyazigqumela (each man for himself).

The unfair part of this whole saga is that students living outside the campus residence are allocated the same amount of money as those staying at the campus residence.

The time to sort out this whole accommodation mess is now, as there’s no other time.

McDivett Khumbulani Tshehla

Halfway House