The NEF is proud to support black entrepreneurs who are transforming the student housing landscape. With R300 million invested to date, we are bridging gaps in quality and accessible housing, empowering students to thrive in their education. Thank you, Mr Mia, for highlighting our ongoing commitment to collaboration with NSFAS and addressing sector challenges.
🎓 Empowering Education Through Providing Quality Student Accommodation On December 17th and 18th 2024 the NEF (National Empowerment Fund) had the privilege of addressing student accommodation providers at an event hosted in Durban by NSFAS. The NEF recognised the critical shortage of adequate and affordable student housing for underprivileged students as far back as 2018. To address this, we committed to supporting black entrepreneurs in the student accommodation sector by taking on early development risks and providing much-needed equity support to those new to the industry. 📊 Our Impact: To date, the NEF has invested approximately R300 million in student accommodation projects, with investments spanning Gauteng, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape. These efforts have helped bridge the gap in accessible and quality accommodation, ensuring students have a safe and conducive environment to pursue their education. 💬 Challenges Raised: During the session, service providers voiced concerns about delays in payments from NSFAS.The leadership of NSFAS acknowledged these challenges and had a dedicated team present at the event to assist service providers dealing with payment challenges directly. In addition, service provider were requested to provide inputs regarding challenges facing the sector. NSFAS are also looking at ways of improving the payment process for the 2025 year. 🤝 Looking Ahead: The NEF remains committed to fostering impactful partnerships in the student accommodation sector. We look forward to collaborating with NSFAS in 2025 to further support entrepreneurs and enhance the availability of student housing for those who need it most. Together, we can create a lasting impact in the education sector and empower the next generation of leaders. #StudentAccommodation #NSFAS #NEF #Entrepreneurship #EducationEmpowerment #Collaboration #ImpactInvesting #Transformation