Question NW2550 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Reply:

The College campuses are mainly in rural areas and most of the landlords are the rural villagers.

In as much as the college assists in the type of accommodation when the students do their application for accommodation, however the college is not in control of the accommodation because students will finally choose the place where they want to reside, and it is the students who will submit the required documentation to NSFAS.

The college assists the students to apply for accommodation in the following manner:

• by checking that they are staying 10 kilometres away from the college based on their proof of home address. The 10 kilometres is a threshold by NSFAS to determine whether students qualify for 2023 accommodation or travel allowance.
• The following documents are submitted by the students when applying for the accommodation allowance,
  • signed form attached with the proof of home address,
  • student ID copy,
  • the landlord ID copy and
  • lease agreement or rental agreement.

Accommodation allowance is paid directly to student after all the requirements have been met as quality assured by NSFAS.

Letaba TVET College is currently not having accredited accommodation or college residential accommodation.

NSFAS is in the process of identifying accommodation services providers. The service providers will be accredited by NSFAS as per their student’s accommodation specifications. After receiving the list of the NSFAS accredited accommodation services providers, it is only then that the college will direct the students to only utilize the accredited accommodation service providers. Currently the college does not have control over where the students should have accommodation as it is subject to the assessment criterion at NSFAS before the award is made to the successful student.

Letaba TVET College is currently in a process of renovating Maake and Modjadji campuses student’s resident. It is also looking for funds to build College students residents for Giyani and Tzaneen Campus.

The College has no proof of students that are funded by NSFAS and are currently residing at informal settlements.