Update

GEORGE NEWS - Some landlords in George who provide accommodation services to students of the George campus of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have been waiting since the beginning of the year for rental payable to them by the university. 

This is despite NMU's urgent request last year to landlords to create more facilities as there was a shortage in accommodation.

One landlord who provides facilities for 30 students said by 25 April he was owed three months' rental. 

Some landlords are awaiting rental dating from last year. He says about 800 students are housed in private facilities in the George area.

Promises

"The student housing department has been making promises of payment, but nothing is forthcoming. Last year NMU pleaded with landlords to make additional provision for students. I spent a lot of money to create more facilities at a cost of about R180 000 for furniture, fridges, stoves, internet installations, ovens and more. 

"Now I have to borrow money to pay for my expenses in an effort to keep the students on. This is a reflection on the university."

In a letter dated Tuesday 18 April, addressed to the affected service providers, NMU student housing director Mxolisi Ncapayi apologises for their failure to pay and refers to promises he had made that they would be paid. He writes that the university "is doing everything to process the payments to be finalised this week".

A week later, a number of service providers had still not been paid.

Poor treatment at PE office

"When we enquire at the head-office in Port Elizabeth, we are treated appallingly, like children, especially by two of the officials. We have now [25 April] heard that almost all the staff are on leave for Ramadan. We thought that they would be back yesterday [24 April], but everyone in the department is still on leave while we have been struggling to provide students with electricity, gas and Wi-Fi. 

"Many of us are in trouble with our home loans. The municipality is cutting our water, our names are blacklisted, and policies have lapsed," said one complainant.

Another, who also houses 30 students, told the newspaper, "The staff in Port Elizabeth treat us as if we are dogs begging for a piece of bread. They will cause me to land up in hospital due to the stress. I cannot go on like this. It is the same every year. Rental owed to me from 2022 was settled only in March. One woman is struggling to get rental of more than R80 000 still owed to her from 2022. "

NMU explains

Responding to the complaints, Zandile Mbabela, communications officer from the Port Elizabeth campus, said the payment run for the landlords has been effected, with some providers having been paid from 19 April.

"A challenge that usually arises at the beginning of the year, particularly in relation to student accommodation, is that of delays in students securing funding and thus being able to register for tuition and residence. It is a requirement that a student be registered for tuition before they can register for accommodation, and some academic registrations are delayed as students await funding confirmation, which then affects placement into accommodation.

"The university's student housing office, however, is working on effecting payments to accredited accommodation service providers housing our registered students. Service providers who, for various reasons, have not received payment, may contact the university in that regard."

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