The Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked Parliament’s Higher Education Committee to summon the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and Deputy Minister Buti Manamela after the fund failed to pay accommodation providers, leaving more than 500 Sol Plaatje University and Northern Cape Urban TVET students facing eviction in Kimberley.

DA Higher Education Spokesperson Dr Delmaine Christians said Manamela’s touted R13.3 billion “reprioritisation” plan still leaves a R10.6 billion shortfall and lacks detail on which programmes will be cut.

The party wants a line-by-line breakdown of the reprioritised funds, a concrete strategy to close the shortfall, and a timetable to clear outstanding accommodation claims, so landlords can pay utility bills and avoid layoffs.

Students, unable to settle rent or tuition, risk academic disruption, while frustrated landlords, some unpaid for a year, say they have lost trust in NSFAS. Christians warned the situation is untenable and pledged that the DA will fight to ensure no student becomes destitute because of bureaucratic failures at the fund.