Frustrated students from the University of Johannesburg, supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), marched to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) demanding to make their voices heard over student residences that are demanding cash top-ups from them outside of their funding allowances.
Concerns have been growing regarding the student accommodation crisis linked to NSFAS funding.
Yanga Mbili, a final-year student studying B Com Economics and Econometrics, says she was illegally evicted from her residence after being held hostage because she refused to pay a top-up fee that was demanded from her.
“We are here striking in front of the SABC today along with the EFF to expose that illegal top-up fees have been demanded by multiple student accommodations illegally. I was evicted because I could not afford to pay the money that they demanded from me, as I am an NSFAS beneficiary. According to the rules and regulations, it has been clearly stated that we should not pay any deposits, top-ups, or any administration fees that have not been approved by NSFAS.”
Mbili says she paid the top-up for two months, and in May, she told the residence administrator that she did not have the money, and that is when she was threatened with an immediate termination of lease and an eviction.
“They demanded that I pay R2700 by 5th May, and I told them that I don’t have it, but because I was scared of being thrown out with nowhere to go, I took R1700 from my NSFAS grocery allowance and paid so I could stay for the rest of the month whilst looking for another place to stay. When I thought that I was out of the dark, the res demanded that I pay a cancellation fee amounting to R1800. I told them to cancel my lease effective immediately because I don’t have the money. I was then reported to a debt collector who then held me and my belongings hostage, and they stated that I cannot leave until I pay them.”
Mbili then reported her hostage situation to the police, who came but failed to free her from the hands of those who were keeping her against her will. She says she was forced to sign an acknowledgement of debt for her to be released.
The students say they are tired of being threatened with eviction and urge NSFAS to investigate the residences and call them to order.
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