IN CONVERSATION WITH SIYABONGA MOSES
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For thousands of South African students, securing funding through schemes such as NSFAS can mean the difference between accessing higher education and being excluded from it. However, while student funding has helped improve access to universities and TVET colleges, concerns remain about whether financial aid adequately covers the real costs of studying in today's economic environment. Students continue to face increasing expenses related to accommodation, food, transport, learning materials, connectivity, and other daily necessities.
South Africa's rising cost of living has placed additional pressure on students and their families. Inflation, increasing food prices, rising transport costs, and escalating rental costs have significantly affected student budgets. Many students report that their allowances are exhausted long before month-end, forcing them to skip meals, borrow money, seek part-time work, or rely on family members who may already be facing financial hardship. Rising fuel prices have also contributed to higher transport and food costs, placing further strain on student finances.
Against this backdrop, student organisations have increasingly raised concerns about the gap between available funding and the actual cost of living and studying. Questions are being asked about whether funding models are keeping pace with economic realities, how students are coping with financial pressures, and what interventions may be needed to ensure that access to higher education translates into a realistic opportunity for academic success. As the voice of students across South Africa, the South African Union of Students (SAUS) is well positioned to provide insight into these challenges and the lived experiences of students nationwide.
South Africa's rising cost of living has placed additional pressure on students and their families. Inflation, increasing food prices, rising transport costs, and escalating rental costs have significantly affected student budgets. Many students report that their allowances are exhausted long before month-end, forcing them to skip meals, borrow money, seek part-time work, or rely on family members who may already be facing financial hardship. Rising fuel prices have also contributed to higher transport and food costs, placing further strain on student finances.
Against this backdrop, student organisations have increasingly raised concerns about the gap between available funding and the actual cost of living and studying. Questions are being asked about whether funding models are keeping pace with economic realities, how students are coping with financial pressures, and what interventions may be needed to ensure that access to higher education translates into a realistic opportunity for academic success. As the voice of students across South Africa, the South African Union of Students (SAUS) is well positioned to provide insight into these challenges and the lived experiences of students nationwide.
